Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Darwin Nunez from Benfica in a deal that could see the striker become the most expensive transfer in the club's history.
Nunez completed his medical on Tuesday and has put pen to paper on a six-year deal that will see him tied to Anfield until 2028, subject to international clearance and work permit approval.
The 22-year-old striker had been a target for a number of clubs including Manchester United, with Liverpool moving quickly to agree player and club terms to ensure the player's desire to move to Anfield was realised.
The Reds negotiated a deal with Benfica for the Uruguay international, paying a set fee of £64.1million (€75m) with a possible £21.3m (€25m) in add-ons depending on individual success, ranging from reaching appearance landmarks, scoring goals to winning the Champions League.
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While the initial fee for Nunez is lower than the club record £75m spent to take Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018, the likelihood is the forward will trigger sufficient add-ons to at least match that fee with regular appearances.
The large fee has been offset by the personal demands of Nunez, which are more in keeping with those of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz of around £140,000 a week rather than the higher wages of established forwards Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
Spanish side Almeria will receive 20% of the fee as part of their €24m deal to sell Nunez to Benfica in September 2020.
Nunez - who will wear the number 27 shirt vacated by Divock Origi - will officially begin his Anfield career when the transfer window opens for overseas signings on July 1. He follows 19-year-old attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho, a £5m arrival from Fulham, as Liverpool's second capture of the summer.
The Uruguay international scored 47 goals in 84 appearances for Benfica, with 34 coming in 41 outings this season. Nunez finished the top scorer in the Portuguese Primeira Liga with 26 goals, and netted in the Champions League group stage against Barcelona and Bayern Munich before scoring both home and away against Liverpool in the quarter-final. He has two goals in 11 caps for Uruguay.
The Reds made their move as they prepare for life without Sadio Mane, who is a target for Bayern Munich. Liverpool are yet to receive a third bid for the player, despite reports in Germany stating Bayern will return with an offer of a £30.28m (€35m) set fee with an additional £4.33m (€5m) in bonuses.
Liverpool last week rejected a £30m package from the Bundesliga side given the fantastical nature of the proposed add-ons. They value Mane at nearer £42.5m.
