Estonian Defender Ragnar Klavan Completes Move To Liverpool From Augsburg

Liverpool have completed the signing of Estonian defender Ragnar Klavan from Augsburg.

Estonian Defender Ragnar Klavan Completes Move To Liverpool From Augsburg

Klavan, 30, has joined the Reds on a three-year, £4.2 million ($5.5 million) deal with the German club.

The Estonian has spent the last four years in the Bundesliga, and has been brought in as cover at center-back as Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez both have injuries. Meanwhile, defender Tiago Ilori is headed to play with Portugal in the Rio Olympics, and Kolo Toure and Martin Skrtel have also left the club.

Klavan, who has been named Estonia’s player of the year three times, received praise from his international coach, Magnus Pehrsson, who said he will be a good signing for the English club.

“I think he has most of what you ask from a central defender – he is calm with the ball, he can build up well, he’s fast, he’s good in the air, he can tackle,” Pehrsson said in an interview with ESPN. “I think he’s a complete defender.”

Klavan has made 112 appearances for his country, and is currently Estonia’s captain.

He featured against England at Wembley during the Euro 2016 qualifiers, but was sent off with a red card in the return leg.

Pehrsson added the defender has been a strong leader for his national team and is confident he will maintain that quality with Liverpool.

“I’d say that he’s not really a vocal leader,” the coach said. “He’s a leader in Estonia because he’s a great role model in how he trains, how he plays, how he takes care of himself. He’s more a leader by action than by words, I’d say.

Klavan released a statement on his signing.  “I’m really honored to be part of this amazing club, this amazing team,” he told Liverpool’s official website. “It’s hard to put it into words because it’s been a dream of mine for 22 years to come to the Premier League and be a part of this amazing club, Liverpool.

“The Premier League is the most attractive league in the world and you always have amazing players here. This is the home of football.”

Klavan is expected to watch the Reds play against Huddersfield on Wednesday before heading to the United States for part of their pre-season tour on Thursday.

Klavan arrives at Anfield as manager Jurgen Klopp’s fifth summer signing, following £30 million ($39.6 million) Sadio Mane, Loris Karius, Joel Matip and Marko Grujic. 

Matip was brought in on a free transfer earlier this summer and started Sunday’s friendly at Wigan alongside Dejan Lovren.

Matip was replaced towards the end of that game after a foot problem recurred, but Klopp stated he does not expect the injury to disrupt the Cameroon international’s pre-season.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 24: Ragnar Klavan of FC Augsburg in action during the FC Augsburg training session ahead of their UEFA Europa League round of 32, second leg match against Liverpool at Anfield on February 24, 2016 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena