02 July 2023 , 15:26
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Dominik Szoboszlai has pledged to do "everything that's possible" after completing his move to Liverpool.
The Hungary midfielder, formerly of RB Leipzig, has officially become a Reds player after Jurgen Klopp's side met his £60m release clause. He has taken the number eight shirt, worn by former captain Steven Gerrard and more recently donned by summer departure Naby Keita.
Szoboszlai, 22, follows Alexis Mac Allister in moving to Anfield as Klopp looks to rebuild following a fifth-place finish last season. In his first interview with club media, he spoke about his hopes on Merseyside as he prepares to make a Premier League bow.
"It’s really, really good," Szoboszlai said after the move became official. "I enjoyed the last [few] days and I’m looking forward to knowing everybody better.
“The last three or four days went really long; it was not that easy. But at the end I’m here, I’m happy and I can’t wait to get started.
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“[A] really historic club, really good players, good coach, everything is good. For me it was perfect to make the next step in a club like this. The fans, the stadium, everything is really good.”
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Dominik Szoboszlai's Liverpool move has been confirmed (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Szoboszlai was also asked to give his first message to Liverpool's support. “That I can’t wait to see you in the stadium and I’m going to do everything that is possible from my side,” he said.
The former Red Bull Salzburg star moved to Leipzig in January 2021, though injury delayed his debut, and he scored 20 goals in two seasons in the German Bundesliga. He also has seven goals in 32 senior appearances for Hungary, including the last-gasp winner against Iceland which sent his country through to Euro 2020.
Szoboszlai could make his senior Liverpool debut at Stamford Bridge, with the Reds travelling to face Chelsea in the opening game week of the new Premier League season. Before then, Klopp's team face several pre-season matches in Germany and Singapore.
Dominik Szoboszlai joins Liverpool after impressing in Germany (Getty Images)Former Barnsley boss Gerhard Struber, who worked with Szoboszlai in Austria, has hailed the 22-year-old. Struber was in charge at Liefering, where Szoboszlai began his career as a teenager before catching fire.
“I have many many big talents next to me like Naby Keita, Taki Minamino, Patson Daka - so many players who play for Leipzig in the German Bundesliga and then make the jump to the Premier League," the Austrian told Redmen TV. "I had so many top talents next to me but I can say Dominik Szoboszlai was always a player who surprised us.
“We saw the potential in him at this time and also what I see and I never forget is that sometimes the team would have an off day and he was always on the field. He would train on days off. I was in my office, I can see him outside and he would make some special corner kicks, free kicks with the balls on the field.
“I think next to a top talent what he is, I can see also a high ambition and in this direction, two things come together – very high work ethic plus a super talent."