Alexis Mac Allister completes move from Brighton to Liverpool
The World Cup winner's headed to Anfield for a fee thought to be around £45 million
Last updated 8th Jun 2023
Liverpool have begun the rebuild of their midfield with the signing of Brighton's World Cup-winning Argentina international Alexis Mac Allister.
A fee has not been disclosed but it is understood the 24-year-old had a release clause - believed to be around £45million - in a contract he only signed in October.
The PA news agency understands the Argentinian has signed a five-year contract.
In a statement released to Brighton's official website, Mac Allister said he would be 'forever grateful' to the club he joined in 2019, and who he had scored 20 times in 112 appearances with.
"It’s time to say goodbye to the club that opened the doors for me and gave me such amazing moments. I never thought I was going to live what I have lived in these three-and-a-half years, but this club gave me that opportunity and I’ll be forever grateful.
"First of all, I’d like to thank every person who was a part of this journey, Tony Bloom, Paul Barber and my managers, Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi and all their staff; and most importantly, the players, who I have beautiful memories with and have learnt so much from.
"Thanks to everyone who works at the club who are the least seen but who work the hardest, so we can enjoy everyday and the team can achieve big goals.
"Finally, a special mention to all the fans, your support and respect during this time has been incredible. Your welcome after the World Cup, I will never forget it.
"I don’t have any doubts that this team is going to achieve many important things, because they have the football skills and human quality to do it."
Mac Allister has been on the club's radar prior to his move to the Seagulls in 2019 but the club felt his development was still in its early stages, although his versatility to play in several positions was a key factor in their interest.
He was subsequently identified as a key target prior to the winter World Cup in Qatar, in which he played a key part in Argentina's victory, and Liverpool were keen to secure his services to avoid a bidding war.
Mac Allister's age and his career appearances (160) fit in with the demographics of some of the club's most successful signings like Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Roberto Firmino and represent the start of an overhaul of a midfield which lost James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the end of their contracts.
"It feels amazing. It's a dream come true, it's amazing to be here and I can't wait to get started," Mac Allister told liverpoolfc.com.
"I wanted to be in (from) the first day of pre-season, so it's good that everything is done. I'm looking forward to meeting my team-mates.
"It was a fantastic year for me - World Cup, what we achieved with Brighton - but now it's time to think about Liverpool and try to be a better player and a better human being every day.
"Since I won the World Cup, I said that I want to win more trophies and I think that this club will help me to do that - that's the aim and when you are in a big club like this one, you have to win trophies. So, that's what I want.
"Since I arrived here, I can see how big this club is - the players we have, the staff, everyone.
"I'm really pleased and looking forward to playing for this club."