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Liverpool confirm £10m Origi capture

ESPN staff
July 29, 2014
Redknapp plays down Remy failed medical

Liverpool have confirmed the capture of striker Divock Origi from Lille as Brendan Rodgers makes his sixth summer signing at Anfield.

The 19-year-old striker will immediately be loaned back to the French club for the coming season. Though the transfer fee is undisclosed, it is believed Liverpool have paid £10 million for Origi's services.

"I am very, very happy and delighted a club as big as Liverpool showed interest in me. I'm very excited," Origi told Liverpool's official website, after completing his transfer at the club's pre-season training camp in Boston.

"I know it's a club with a great history, great fans and a lot of great players. For me, Liverpool is one of the greatest clubs in the world and I'm very excited to be part of this great history."

Origi's signing follows the arrivals of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Emre Can, Lazar Markovic and Dejan Lovren this summer, as Rodgers prepares for Liverpool's return to the Champions League after a five-year absence.

Liverpool have fought off interest from several clubs including Tottenham for a player who impressed at the World Cup, where he scored a late winner for Belgium in their group game against Russia.

"For me, he can be one of the most exciting talents in world football. I genuinely believe that," Rodgers told Liverpool's website.

Divock Origi scored the winner for Belgium against Russia at the World Cup © Getty Images
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"You see a lot of good players, but this kid - for 19 years of age - he burst onto the scene at the World Cup, but we'd tracked him before that, we'd seen him as a young player playing in the youth internationals. He has everything to be world class.

"He's super fast, has a wonderful touch, he's a good size and is aggressive. What I like, and what I have in other players, is that humility to work hard.

"I've seen enough of him over the course of the last couple of seasons to think this is a kid who, coming into the right environment, can genuinely be world class.

"He will go back to Lille and play there for the season on loan, but by signing him, we'll have a wonderful player - not only now when he comes in next season, but also in the future.

"He can light up world football, for sure."

The move comes just two days after Loic Remy's £8 million switch from Queens Park Rangers to Liverpool collapsed.

Reports emerged that Remy had failed his medical in Boston, though QPR manager Harry Redknapp claimed that wouldn't have been possible.

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