Marko Grujic has been officially unveiled as a Liverpool player, becoming manager Jurgen Klopp's first signing for the club.
Serbia under-21 international Grujic, 19 chose Anfield after a personal intervention from Klopp, who was advised about the player by his Serbian assistant Zeljko Buvac.
Liverpool Football Club are delighted to confirm the signing of Serbia midfielder Marko Grujic. #LFC pic.twitter.com/mPwcWuA9Ti
- Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 6, 2016
Liverpool have paid Red Star Belgrade about £5.1 million for the midfielder, but the Serbian Superliga leaders will keep him on loan for the rest of the season in a £740,000 deal. They will also receive 10 percent of any sell-on fee.
The club did not confirm the length of the contract but he is reported to have signed a five-year deal.
Grujic, who has scored five goals in 21 league games for Red Star so far this season, told Liverpool's official website: "I'm very excited and so proud to be here and a member of Liverpool Football Club. I can't wait to get started, play at Anfield and train at Melwood.
"I was thinking about my progress in my next period and decided it was good for me to come here and try to be the best I can. I want to play in front of one of the loudest set of fans in Europe at Anfield.
"I also like the atmospheres at other stadiums, the crowds are very good. I like to play under pressure and that's why I've come here -- because it brings out the best in me."
Marko Grujic familiarises himself with Melwood... #LFC https://t.co/XCSB33PRLv
- Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 6, 2016
Klopp added: "We're very pleased because Marko is a big talent and we've seen him a lot of times.
"When I came here, our scouts showed me some footage of a very skilled player from Red Star Belgrade. We watched it, we spoke to him, we met each other -- he's a good boy, a young boy, but plays an important role at the moment at Red Star, who are the best team in Serbia.
"To describe him, I would say he's a tall boy, but quick and good at technical things. He can play passes and can dribble. But he is young, so he has to develop. He will do this, so everything is OK."
Grujic arrived on Merseyside for a medical on Monday, with matters moving swiftly after Red Star confirmed shortly before Christmas that they had agreed a fee for his sale.
Klopp and Anfield chief executive Ian Ayre moved swiftly to win the race for Grujic's signature ahead of Anderlecht and Stuttgart, who also tabled bids, and amid interest from Inter Milan.
Grujic, an Under-20 World Cup winner with Serbia last summer, had said he wanted to help Red Star clinch a Champions League place before leaving his hometown club.
He will move to Liverpool on July 1, but Red Star agreed an immediate deal in order to help pay their debts and lift the UEFA financial sanctions that blocked their participation in last season's Champions League.