On Tuesday morning, Liverpool confirmed the signing of 23-year-old Hoffenheim forward Roberto Firmino on their official website.
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Having previously been linked with both Manchester City and Manchester United [Bild], the Brazil international has ultimately ended up at Anfield.
BBC Sport understand that a fee in the region of £29 million has been agreed for the versatile offensive star, while the “long-term deal” announced by Liverpool on their official website is understood to be a five-year contract [Globoesporte].
The forward—who is currently on international duty with Brazil at the Copa America—represents Brendan Rodgers’s first big-money foray into the market this summer, with Firmino arriving on the back of free or modest deals for players such as James Milner, Danny Ings, Adam Bogdan and Joe Gomez.
Firmino moved to Hoffenheim from Figueirense in 2011 and has gone on to score 35 goals in 145 Bundesliga appearances over the last four and a half years. He has also featured in the top three for assists in the German top flight for the last two campaigns.
Here’s how Liverpool fans and other sources reacted to the news of the player’s imminent arrival at Anfield, and the subsequent confirmation of a deal on Tuesday morning.
Firmino? Quality mate, seen him play last few seasons. Likes to come in from the inside right trequartista position. pic.twitter.com/qllFeaUPES
— TheSPORTbible (@TSBible) June 24, 2015
I still can’t believe we’ve pulled off Firmino. Haven’t been this excited about a deal since we brought Suarez in.
— Liverpool GFN (@LiverpoolGFN) June 24, 2015
The best thing about Firmino deal is it shows #LFC are still a club with both pull & ambition – great to see it done quickly & decisively.
— Si Steers (@sisteers) June 24, 2015
Wait. We’re ACTUALLY signing Firmino???
— CharDee MacDennis (@Andrew_Smith94) June 23, 2015
Oh i think that i’ve found myself a goal machino It must be Roberto Firmino — James (@CoutinhoYNWA) June 23, 2015
Firmino is a playerrrr! Hope he adapts tbf. Decent little signing KGP
— gary (@garyparr77) June 23, 2015
Only two players were rated higher performance-wise via WhoScored than Firmino in the Bundesliga last season: Robben and De Bruyne. #LFC — Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) June 23, 2015
Welcome to The Anfield. Firmino. YNWA!!!
— HERI SETIAWAN (@sleppingforest) June 23, 2015
Brazilian flair married with German efficiency. I can’t see Firmino being anything other than a success in the Premiership tbf.
— Henningberg (@HeisenbergMUFC) June 24, 2015
I wonder where people get the Firmino transfer fee from. That it CAN rise to £28m does not mean it WILL. He signs for £21m.
— Fisayo Dairo (@FisayoDairo) June 24, 2015