Liverpool complete £5.1m signing of Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Grujic

19-year-old Serbian will be loaned back to Red Star Belgrade for the rest of the season

Marko Grujic (GETTY IMAGES)

Liverpool have completed the signing of Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Grujic, reported to be in the region of £5.1m.

The 19-year-old, who joins on a four-year contract, will return to Belgrade on loan for the remainder of the current campaign and is the first signing at Anfield since Jurgen Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers.

Reportedly subject to interest from across Europe, Grujic currently represents Serbia at U21 level and was also a member of their World Cup-winning U20 squad in 2015.

Speaking to Liverpool’s official website: “I’m very excited and so proud to be here and a member of Liverpool Football Club. I can’t wait to get started, play at Anfield and train at Melwood.

“I was thinking about my progress in my next period and decided it was good for me to come here and try to be the best I can.

“I want to play in front of one of the loudest set of fans in Europe at Anfield.

“I also like the atmospheres at other stadiums, the crowds are very good. I like to play under pressure and that’s why I’ve come here – because it brings out the best in me.”

Grujic has helped Belgrade climb to the top of the Serbian Superliga – with a 25-point cushion over nearest rivals for the title FK Cukaricki.

Upon securing his first deal at Anfield, Klopp said: “We’re very pleased because Marko is a big talent and we’ve seen him a lot of times.

Marko Grujic shows hoff his new colours (GETTY IMAGES)

“When I came here, our scouts showed me some footage of a very skilled player from Red Star Belgrade. We watched it, we spoke to him, we met each other – he’s a good boy, a young boy but plays an important role at the moment at Red Star, who are the best team in Serbia.

“To describe him, I would say he’s a tall boy, but quick and good at technical things. He can play passes and can dribble. But he is young, so he has to develop. He will do this, so everything is okay.”