Liverpool have completed the signing of Simon Mignolet from Sunderland on a long-term deal.

The 25-year-old moves to Anfield for an undisclosed fee, understood to be over £9m, after completing a medical at the club's Melwood training ground on Tuesday. The stopper has become the first Belgian player to join the Reds.

"Liverpool Football Club are delighted to confirm the signing of Belgium international goalkeeper Simon Mignolet from Sunderland. The deal with the Black Cats is now complete and the 25-year-old has penned a long-term contract after passing a medical at Melwood," read a club statement.

Simon Mignolet
Liverpool

Manager Brendan Rodgers expressed his delight in the signing and stressed Mignolet will have first team opportunities next season, despite possible competition from current number one and Spanish star Pepe Reina.

"I am delighted that we have been able to sign one of the top goalkeepers in the Barclays Premier League. Simon will join a club that will give him an opportunity to demonstrate and improve his huge talent," the Norther Irishman said.

Mignolet, who joined Sunderland from native side Sint-Truidenin 2010 for £2m, started all 38 Premier League matches for the Black Cats last season, keeping 11 clean sheets and making 149 saves. The player claimed he is looking forward to competing with Reina and Brad Jones at Liverpool.

"I've been in big competitions wherever I've been - in Belgium with the national team (Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois and Torino's Jean-François Gillet) and in Sunderland with Craig Gordon and Keiren Westwood, who are international goalies. Now it's the same again with Pepe and with Brad. It's only a good thing - to be competitive and to train as hard as you can, it can only bring the best out of you," Mignolet pointed out.

"It's a challenge but that's what you want. You want to play in the big games, you want to play for a big club and to play with pressure. I'm very confident in myself and I can't wait to get the first clean sheet under my belt. I've never been a nervous person. I'm quite confident in my own abilities," the goalkeeper added.

Mignolet becomes Liverpool's fourth summer signing, after the arrivals of Kolo Toure from Manchester City, Luis Alberto from Sevilla and Iago Aspas from Celta Vigo.

Barclays