Liverpool have signed Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani on a five-year contract after the Italian international passed a medical.
The 25-year-old has joined the Reds in a deal reportedly worth £20m.
Aquilani has not played since March due to an ankle injury and is only expected to be fully fit in around four to eight weeks time.
Liverpool said in a statement: "He will continue his rehabilitation under the guidance of our medical team."
Aquilani is Liverpool's second major summer signing after England right-back Glen Johnson joined from Portsmouth.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez targeted the Italian on Wednesday just hours after the Reds sold Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid for £30m.
"Alberto has a winning mentality and great experience in both Serie A and the Champions League," said Benitez.
Aquilani, has played 11 times for Italy and has been with Roma, the club he supported as a child, since he was 16, making his debut as an 18-year-old under now England boss Fabio Capello.
"Aquilani has long been recognised as a top class talent in Italy, captaining his country at both Under 19 and Under 21 levels before establishing himself in the senior national side," said Benitez.
The Italian had an operation on his ankle injury in May after struggling with injury problems which restricted him to just 14 appearances for Roma last season.
The Reds had also been linked with Wigan's Lee Catermole and Valencia's David Silva.
Last summer a move for then Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry - now at Manchester City following a £12m summer transfer - fell through after Benitez was unable to sell Alonso to raise the sufficient funds for the deal
nguon: http://news.bbc.co.uk
Aug 9, 2009
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