Liverpool sign Preston defender Ben Davies
Liverpool have announced the signing of central defender Ben Davies from Preston North End for a fee in the region of £500,000 with add-ons worth up to £1.1 million with a 20 per cent sell on fee.
The 25-year-old joins the Premier League champions on a long-term deal after successfully completing his medical on February 1st.
Davies, whose contract was due to run out in the summer had reportedly signed a pre-contractual agreement with Celtic, but Liverpool stepped in with the Merseyside club needing reinforcements in central defence.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been forced to use twelve different centre back pairings this season with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all missing significant periods of time due to injury.
Davies will provide much needed cover at the back as Liverpool look to challenge for the title.
The 25-year-old who rose through the ranks at Preston is delighted to be given the opportunity to play for Liverpool. “I’m obviously delighted to be here.
“It’s a huge opportunity. Obviously it came as a bit of a surprise when it first came but once you start to get your head around it, the opportunity that is in front of me is incredible. I’d be silly to not make the most of it and learn off the players [at the club].” He told Liverpoolfc.com.
“I haven’t actually walked out of the tunnel yet, so I’m looking forward to that. Just to be in this kind of atmosphere is brilliant.” He continued.
Davies wants to establish himself as a Premier League player after taking the step up from the Championship. “I want to come in and play games to start with, I want to get my foot in the door and make myself a Premier League player rather than obviously a Championship player. And then take it from there really.
“I know we’ve got some top players here and players I can certainly learn from. Once you get your foot in the door then you’re here as well. Hopefully I can take my chance and then move forward with it.”
“I’m looking forward to coming in and playing in front of everyone and showing everyone what I can do. I’m sure a lot of fans and people don’t know [me], or haven’t even seen me play.
“It’s definitely an exciting time and I think they’ll quite enjoy watching me when I’m playing well.” He concluded.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is excited by the signing of Davies. “We see the quality and we see the potential as well because he’s 25 and there’s a lot to come for him. I love a lot about his play. He’s a really good footballer, looks like a proper leader in this Preston team, good in challenges, looks football smart” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com.
“That’s very important but the fact that he said yes shows he is confident… So this is a challenge but it’s an opportunity – a big, big opportunity. I see it exactly like that.
“And we believe 100 per cent in development. I’m sure he wants to learn still, we are ready to teach still, to coach still. I’m really looking forward to meeting him.” Klopp concluded.
Davies comes into a Liverpool team that have run of important fixtures in their quest to retain the Premier League title.
Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg will join Preston on a season long loan as cover for Davies.
