Liverpool sign Can
June 5, 2014
Liverpool announced an agreement in principle with Bayer Leverkusen, subject to documentation being completed, on Thursday after media reports had indicated a longstanding interest in Can. His contract at Leverkusen ran until June 30, 2017, but it had a 16 million euro ($21.7 million) release clause.
German daily Bild and the BBC reported the transfer fee to be around 12 million euros.
"Emre Can developed as a player very quickly in the last 12 months at Bayer Leverkusen and we would have liked to hold onto him," club CEO Michael Schade said in a statement. "But the exit clause is part of his contract. So we wish him further development and success in the Premier League."
Can made 39 appearances in all competitions for Leverkusen last season, helping the club to a fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga to secure Champions League qualification.
The all-rounder played nearly every position for Leverkusen this season aside from goalkeeper and striker, but is most-comfortable in the center of midfield.
Can, born in Frankfurt of Turkish descent, moved to the Pharmaceuticals for 5.5 million euros at the start of the season after struggling for playing time at Bayern Munich. He previously played at the European Under-21 Championship and Under-17 World Cup for Germany.
The signing is Liverpool's second of the offseason after striker Rickie Lambert, who joined the club from Southampton earlier this week for 4 million pounds (4.9 million euros, $6.7 million) plus add-ons.
dr/msh (AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa, SID)