Liverpool sign Jeremie Frimpong in £29.5m transfer… as Trent Alexander-Arnold exit pays for first of THREE instalments

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, which they will pay in three annual instalments.

Liverpool have landed £10m from Real Madrid to allow Trent Alexander-Arnold to move to Spain in time for the Club World Cup - with this fee effectively paying the first instalment in the deal for Frimpong.

The 12-cap 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, who has penned a "long-term deal" will compete with homegrown talent Conor Bradley, 21, for the right-back spot.

Speaking to the Reds' website upon signing, Frimpong said: "It went quite easy. Liverpool came and said they had interest, and obviously for me it was a no-brainer.

"For me, it was like, ‘Whatever you guys do, just get this done’, [speaking to] my agents: ‘Just get this done.’

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"Liverpool fans, I’m going to give my all, my energy, my work-rate and hopefully we can win together, we celebrate together, get everything together.

"I’m just excited to be here. Thank you guys for accepting me and I won’t let you guys down and I’ll give you the energy that you guys want."

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

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.

The Kop new-boy 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.