Liverpool sign Jeremie Frimpong in £29m transfer as Arne Slot completes first deal of summer

JEREMIE FRIMPONG has completed his £29.5million move to Liverpool.

The Bayer Leverkusen right-back, 24, touched down in the UK on Tuesday after the Premier League champions met his release clause.

Jeremie Frimpong has officially joined Liverpool before the start of the window

The 12-capped Dutch international becomes Arne Slot’s first summer signing, with his bargain fee a big role in the club’s decision to pursue him.

His arrival coincides with the departure of long-serving full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is set to join Real Madrid.

Frimpong will compete with homegrown talent Conor Bradley, 21, for the right-back spot.

He builds on the Dutch influence at Anfield, alongside captain Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo.

Kop boss Slot, who took over from Jurgen Klopp and won the league title during his first season in charge, is also from the Netherlands.

Frimpong was a key part of the Leverkusen team that pipped Bayern Munich to the 2023/24 Bundesliga title, starting 25 league games.

After finishing second behind Bayern this season, Leverkusen are also set to lose Florian Wirtz, who could bag them £125million.

Liverpool were pipped to get Wirtz too, but Real Madrid and Bayern have entered the race for the 22-year-old attacking midfielder.

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Signing Frimpong adds to the number of home-grown players on the Reds’ books.

He would qualify as homegrown as he spent nine years in England when he was on Manchester City’s books from age nine.

While Liverpool will miss Alexander-Arnold’s attacking prowess, Frimpong has scored five goals this season and can operate as a right winger.

Frimpong recently revealed that he was close to joining Liverpool as a kid.

Frimpong told Rising Ballers: “I actually chose Liverpool first.

“I was going to sign for them, but back then, driving wasn’t a thing. My family wasn’t driving and it was far.

“Man City was local, so it made more sense. It was 15 minutes on the bus.”

After failing to get onto Pep Guardiola’s radar at City, Frimpong joined Celtic and won the domestic Scottish treble during his first season north of the border.

Liverpool are also interested in Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, who is valued at £45m.