Liverpool have completed the signing of Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Emre Can almost a month after announcing that a deal had been agreed in principle.
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The Germany under-21 international's move has been finalised after the necessary paperwork was completed, and he revealed that the Merseyside club had been scouting him for some time.
Can has joined for a reported fee of 10 million pounds and is another new face in an Anfield squad bolstered by the arrivals of striker Rickie Lambert and midfielder Adam Lallana from Southampton over the summer.
"I heard that they [Liverpool] had an interest in signing me for a long time -- approximately four years," Can told the official Liverpool website.
"We weren't in contact then, but I had it at the back of mind and then it got more and more intense. I was told about the manager's firm interest about four or five months ago.
"It was an easy decision for me to sign with Liverpool as I had a very good chat with the manager, which clearly showed that the club and he wanted to sign me. This was important for me. I can say it was an easy decision for me."