Marko Grujic to Liverpool Transfer Officially Announced

Liverpool announced the capture of Serbian midfielder Marko Grujic from Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday.

"We received offers from Anderlecht for [€2 million], Stuttgart for [€5 million] and Liverpool for [€7 million] and [10 percent] of the next transfer," noted a statement from Red Star on Dec. 23, per Joe Short of the Daily Express. The official release continued:

"

The club want to thank [Grujic] for 10 years of service but the financial situation dictates the decision.

The board considered the offer and accepted the proposal from Liverpool to pay the money immediately and the player to stay at Red Star until [July 1, 2016].

[Grujic] should continue to develop at one of the biggest clubs in the world. We are convinced, just like Liverpool, that he has the qualities to have a great career in England.

"

However, on the same day, Grujic's father questioned Liverpool's intentions with his son, suggesting a lack of first-team playing time could harm his career.

"I will not let them ruin my child," said the player's father, per Serbian newspaper Blic (h/t Sean Kearns of Metro). He continued:

"

He became champion of the world, is on track to win the title with the red-whites, it is logical that his price per year will get even bigger. ...

We chatted with people from Udinese, as well as representatives from Anderlecht. But there were stories about the sale—then came the story with Liverpool. 

But many people are in a hurry to collect the transfer. I know that the coach Miodrag Bozovic respects my child—leave the kid alone! 

[In the end,] Liverpool will just offer more money, let’s just clinch the title with Red Star. I know my child. He has the quality to be able to play in England but it’s not the league for him now.

"

The 19-year-old is manager Jurgen Klopp's first Anfield signing in a move that harks back to his habit of developing young, up-and-coming talent during his successful reign at the helm of Borussia Dortmund.

Grujic will hope to follow in the footsteps of players like Mario Gotze, Shinji Kagawa, Mats Hummels and Nuri Sahin, each of whom thrived at Dortmund after being handed first-team opportunities by Klopp.

Now that he's finalised his switch to Anfield, Grujic will soon compete alongside captain Jordan Henderson and deputy James Milner, as well as Emre Can and Liverpool stalwart Lucas Leiva.