Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is confident that new signing Cody Gakpo will have a "really bright future" at Anfield.
The Reds have now confirmed the arrival of the PSV Eindhoven attacker, who will officially join the Merseyside giants when the winter transfer window opens on January 1.
PSV will receive a club-record fee for the 23-year-old, believed to be an initial payment of £37m rising to £44m with add-ons, and he has signed a five-and-a-half year deal until 2028.
Klopp's side unexpectedly pipped Manchester United to the signature of Gakpo, who will wear the number 18 shirt at Anfield and could make his debut against Brentford on January 2.
Speaking to liverpoolfc.com after welcoming the new signing to Liverpool, Klopp singled out soon-to-be ex-sporting director Julian Ward for his efforts in bringing Gakpo to the club and believes that the attacker will shine in Merseyside red for several years.
A first Klopp hug for Cody 🤗 pic.twitter.com/BOACdc23CU
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 28, 2022
"It really is great news for us that we have been able to do it and I have to say it has been a fantastic job by everyone involved, especially Julian," Klopp said.
"The work that has gone into this has been really impressive and in the end we have managed to sign a player who we have known about for quite some time and who we believe will have a really bright future with us."
Gakpo leaves PSV after recording 55 goals and 50 assists in 159 games for Ruud van Nistelrooy's side, including 13 goals and 17 assists in 24 matches in the first half of the 2022-23 season.
The Dutchman won one Eredivisie title, one KNVB-Beker and two Dutch Super Cups with PSV, and he found the back of the net three times in five games for the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup.
"There is a lot to like about Cody. He is still only 23 years old but he already has a lot of experience. He was the captain of PSV, he was the Player of the Year in Holland last season and, as a lot of people have just seen, he also had a great World Cup with his national team," Klopp added.
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"So, it is clear that he is already a really, really good player but his age also means he also has the potential to become even better.
"Offensively, he is very versatile and on top of this we know he is a smart footballer and also a smart person, so we are really excited to be able to work with him."
Gakpo arrives at Liverpool to compete with Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, Fabio Carvalho, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Roberto Firmino for attacking starts, although the latter three are currently out injured.
With neither Jota (calf) nor Diaz (knee) expected back for a few weeks yet, Gakpo will be expected to nail down the left-wing spot during his opening month at Anfield.
Should Monday's game with Brentford come too soon for the Netherlands international to make his debut, his inaugural appearance could come against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup on January 7.
