Nathaniel Clyne: Liverpool sign defender in £12.5m deal

Liverpool have signed Nathaniel Clyne from Southampton for £12.5m. 

The Reds had a £10m bid for the England right-back rejected, but the 24-year-old has now agreed a five-year deal with the Premier League side. 

"I'm delighted and it's a dream move for me to come here and play for such a big club with all of its history," Clyne told the club website. 
 
"As soon as Liverpool showed their interest in me, I was happy and just wanted the deal to go through."
Clyne, who had a year left on his Saints contract, is Liverpool's sixth signing of the summer. 

Clyne's former boss at Crystal Palace, Neil Warnock , on BBC World Service
"For me, he's the best defensive right-back that we've got in England - by a mile. And now he'll move up a gear, he can go to the top level. It doesn't bother him, it doesn't faze him.
"Defensive-wise he sticks to you, he's like a rash when he marks these top players. I think it's a position that Liverpool have lacked in the last couple of years and I think he'll revel in it.
And eventually [England manager] Roy Hodgson will make him his number one. You can't tell me that Phil Jones is better than Clyne at right-back."

He joins forwards Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings, midfielder James Milner, defender Joe Gomez and keeper Adam Bogdan as new arrivals for Brendan Rodgers. The Northern Irish manager has now spent an estimated £250m on transfers since joining the club in 2012. 

"The gaffer has shown a lot of interest in me and this is a place where I can improve as a player, I think. It's definitely a good opportunity to come here and try to fulfil my potential," Clyne said. 

"I've played at Anfield before and know what the atmosphere is all about. It's a great atmosphere and will make me rise to the challenge. I'm really looking forward to it and hopefully it can push me on to putting on good performances." 

Liverpool endured a disappointing 2014-15 campaign, as they finished sixth and missed out on Champions League qualification, having been runners-up the previous season. 

Reference: BBC Sport