- Premier League side Liverpool have unveiled their new signing Naby Keita this summer
- The 23-year-old joined the Reds in a £52m from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig
- Former England star Steven Gerrard has handed his iconic jersey to the midfielder
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has handed his iconic number 8 jersey to the club's new recruit Naby Keita.
The 23-year-old midfielder joined the Reds this summer having agreed personal terms with the Premier League club since 2017.
He is expected to be unveiled officially by the club next week after completing a £52 million move from German League side RB Leipzig - where he scored 14 goals in 58 matches.
Before then, he spent two seasons at an Austrian topflight side Red Bull Salzburg with 17 goals credited to him in 59 appearances.
The Guinean soccer star signed a four year deal with the Bundesliga side but will not see out his contract as his has been signed by last season's Champions League finalists.
Keita, while reacting to Gerrard's gesture says that: "It was an incredible day for me. He gave me the No.8 jersey. When it happened, it was a surprise and I didn’t expect it.
"When he came in, I looked at him and said, 'wow' because he is a legend. He is somebody who always showed respect, who gave his all on the pitch, somebody who is loved here.
"If somebody like that gives you his shirt number, it’s not to play around with, it is to try and do as much as he did – that’s my motivation."
Meanwhile, the former England international, who is currently Scottish League side, Rangers left Liverpool in 2015 to join LA Galaxy.
He spent just one season at the MLS club before finally ending his 27-year football career at the US club.
The 38-year-old won Champions League title with the Anfield side in 2005 having come back from 3-1 to beat AC Milan on penalties after playing 3-3 at the end of normal proceedings.
NAIJ.com previously reported that the Red Bull Leipzig have finally agreed to sell Naby Keita to Liverpool for a premium on top of his £48 million release-clause figure, which kicks in next summer.
The Guinea star midfielder has been a key target for Jurgen Klopp and will now join the Reds in 2018
Keita, 23, has been at Melwood undergoing a medical and the Reds are delighted to have landed their top summer target.
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Source: Naija.ng