Liverpool complete signing of Enrique from Newcastle

Posted on August 13, 2011 by SoccerPunter

Liverpool sealed the signing of Newcastle defender Jose Enrique on Friday with the Spaniard describing the English Premier League transfer as “one of the happiest days of my life”.

Enrique joins Liverpool on a long-term deal after the Reds paid Newcastle a reported transfer fee of £5.5 million (6.3 million euros).

“This is one of the happiest days of my life,” Enrique told liverpoolfc.tv.

“I have come to one of the biggest clubs not just in England, but in the world. I am really, really happy.”

The 25-year-old is Liverpool’s fifth signing of the summer, following the acquisition of Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Alexander Doni.

Enrique could in theory, be available for Saturday’s season-opener against Sunderland although it is unlikely manager Kenny Dalglish will give him a start after just one training session.

Enrique said he was ready to play if required.

“If the manager needs me, I am ready to play,” he said.

“I have already played for Newcastle in pre-season, not every game but two or three games and I am fit and if the manager needs me, I am ready to play.

“My ambition is to win everything with Liverpool. This year we won’t play in the Champions League, so the most important thing is to try to win the league.”

He had previously been quoted as saying he wants to join a club playing Champions League football, but he clarified that it is success that he craves, not deep pockets.

“My move is purely dependent on the sporting opportunity, not money,” he said in The Sun. “I want to fight for titles and I think it more possible to do that with Liverpool than Newcastle.”

Midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who has been linked with a move numerous times, has been given the squad number 15 but left-back Emiliano Insua’s future appears to have been decided by Enrique’s arrival as he has not been given one.

Enrique spent four years at Newcastle after joining from Villarreal in 2007.

Director of football Damien Comolli believes Enrique will be Liverpool’s final signing before the end of the transfer window.

“You can never say never, but it is likely,” he said. “I am convinced we were right in what we wanted to do. We’ve strengthened all the areas we wanted to strengthen with quality.

“I think there is a lot of debate about transfer fees paid – not just with Liverpool but throughout the Premier League. But if we have signed a player it is because we were happy to pay the price. For us it is not even a debate.