Liverpool have signed Senegal World Cup star and African footballer of the year El-Hadji Diouf, the English Premiership club said today.
"We can confirm that African Footballer of the Year El-Hadji Diouf has now signed a five-year deal with Liverpool, which is wonderful news for everyone at the club," club spokesman Ian Cotton said in a statement on the club's website.
"The Senegal striker will join up with his new team-mates when the squad report back for pre-season training in July."
Diouf, who looks set to become one of the World Cup's finds after his part in Senegal's 1-0 win over France, said he was looking forward to his Anfield move.
"I'm delighted to be joining Liverpool. Liverpool are a club that expects to be one of the best in Europe," the 21-year-old Diouf said.
"I want to be one of the best players in the world and I'm sure that at Liverpool and with a great coach like Gerard Houllier I can do that.
It was Diouf's work that helped set up team-mate Pape Bouba Diop for the famous 1-0 scoreline in Friday's opening upset win.
Diouf started his career at French club Sochaux, where he played for a season before joining Brittany outfit Rennes in 1999.
He was loaned to Lens and scored eight goals in the 2000-2001 season, and was the second top scorer with the French runners-up this season.
AFP