Naby Keita Liverpool shirt number: New boy reveals Steven Gerrard personally handed him No 8 jersey

The 23-year-old has been officially announced as the Reds' latest summer signing joining from RB Leipzig for a fee understood to be in the region of £48m

Liverpool new boy Naby Keita has revealed that Steven Gerrard personally handed him the iconic No 8 shirt.

The 23-year-old has been officially announced as the Reds' latest summer signing joining from RB Leipzig for a fee understood to be in the region of £48million.

Keita takes the shirt worn so famously by former club captain Gerrard and has revealed that he was personally handed the jersey by the new Rangers boss at Melwood last August.

“It was an incredible day for me. He gave me the No.8 jersey. When it happened, it was a surprise and I didn’t expect it," he said.

“When he came in, I looked and him and said, ‘wow’ because he is a legend. He is somebody who always showed respect, who gave his all on the pitch, somebody who is loved here.

“If somebody like that gives you his shirt number, it’s not to play around with, it is to try and do as much as he did – that’s my motivation.”

The Guinea international is delighted to have finally have completed his move after the Reds initially agreed the transfer a year ago.

And the man himself is itching to get started after already talking to striker Sadio Mane about what he has to expect.

“When you see how they performed last season it makes me want to do the same and to be a part of this team. I would like to be able to achieve a similar kind of season with them next season – but even better.

Keita takes Gerrard's iconic No 8 shirt (Liverpool FC) (LIverpool FC)

“I chose Liverpool because it is a team I watched often - and I also spoke a lot about it with Sadio [Mane]. He told me a lot about the team and the club.

“I also spoke with the coach, who told me about the project for the team and that motivated me to be here.”