Loris Karius to Liverpool: Latest Transfer Details, Reaction and More

Liverpool confirmed the capture of highly rated young goalkeeper Loris Karius for an undisclosed fee from Mainz 05 on Tuesday.  

Liverpool relayed word of the finalisation of the transfer, with the 22-year-old penning a "long-term contract" at Anfield.

"It’s a very good feeling and it’s an honour to play for a club like this," Karius said in the club statement. "They have a special history and the fans are amazing here, so I look forward to playing at Anfield."

The capture is considered to be a significant coup for the Reds, with the Daily Express' Paul Joyce reporting that Karius had a £4.7 million release clause in his contract with the Bundesliga side.

It’s a move that a lot of Liverpool fans will be excited about. As we can see here, while Karius is tipped to have a bright future in the game, he’s already an excellent goalkeeper:

Karius was actually on Manchester City’s books as a 16-year-old, spending two years at the Etihad Stadium before moving to Mainz permanently in 2012. After making his debut in the 2012-13 season, he went on to establish himself as the club’s undisputed No. 1 and excelled last term at the Coface Arena.

In terms of strengths, Karius is a commanding presence, willing to come and deal with balls into the box. His shot-stopping is also sharp, while his distribution has shown marked signs of improvement this season. 

DANIEL ROLAND/Getty Images

Fox Sports’ Keith Costigan rates the former Mainz man highly, insisting there weren’t many better in the Bundesliga last season:

It’ll be intriguing to see whether Karius comes in as a replacement or a deputy to the much-maligned Simon Mignolet at Anfield.

While the Belgian penned a new deal with Liverpool in February, there are areas of his game in which improvement is needed. His mistakes cost the Reds on numerous occasions last term, with shots squeezing past him and a lack of authority in dealing with high balls.

Here is a look at how the two stoppers compared statistically in 2015-16 in league matches:

	Mignolet	Karius
Apps	34	34
Clean sheets	11	9
Average goals conceded	1.24	1.24
Average saves per game	1.53	2.53
Average saves per goal	1.27	2.10
Average claim success	88%	96%
Average punching	82%	44%

It’d be a big surprise if manager Jurgen Klopp were to throw Karius straight into the side despite his obvious promise. There are still areas of his game in which the German must improve, and given the physical demands placed on goalkeepers in the Premier League, he could find adjusting tough initially.

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

Still, all the attributes are in place for a long and successful future at Anfield for Karius. He’s supremely talented, has a mature head on his young shoulders and seems ready for a step up.

Mignolet, for the time being, will most likely continue to be first choice between the sticks, although he’ll be acutely aware that if his performance levels drop, now there’s a quality 'keeper ready to step in.