Liverpool’s long-awaited move for Thiago Alcantara is official.

Thiago will transfer from Bayern Munich after signing a long-term contract with the Premier League champions Friday.

“I think it’s an amazing feeling. I was waiting for this moment for a long time and I am very, very happy to be here,” Thiago said.

He added: “When the years are passing, you are trying to win as much as you can, and when you win, you want to win more. I think this club describes what I am as well. I want to achieve all of the goals, win as many trophies as possible.”

Liverpool reportedly signed the 29-year-old to a four-year contract worth an initial £20 million. That fee could rise by £5 million if the Reds win the Premier League or Champions League.

Thiago made over 200 appearances after joining Bayern Munich from Barcelona in 2013. He’s won the Bundesliga in every season he’s spent in Germany and capped off his last campaign at Bayern by winning the Champions League in August.

“I have made the most difficult decision of my sports career,” Thiago said in his farewell message to Bayern Munich.

“I will close this chapter on this wonderful club where I have grown as a player for seven years. Triumphs, joy, and also hard times.

“But what I am most proud of is that I arrived in Munich as a young man filled with dreams and now I will leave completely fulfilled with a club, a history, and a culture.”

Thiago is Liverpool’s second signing of the summer after the Reds added left-back Kostas Tsimikas from Olympiacos.

Ajax accepted Manchester United’s offer of €40 million plus add-ons for midfielder Donny van de Beek on Sunday, according to The Guardian’s Ed Aarons and Fabrizio Romano.

It’s understood the Dutch international had already agreed to personal terms on a contract through 2025 with the Red Devils. United are expected to confirm his arrival next week.

The 23-year-old reportedly attracted interest from several leading clubs in Europe, but United’s talks with Van de Beek’s representatives and close ties to Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar – a former United goalkeeper – apparently helped push through a deal.

Van de Beek, who scored 41 goals in 175 appearances for Ajax, addressed speculation of reported interest from United and Real Madrid in January, saying he would not leave Ajax until this summer at the earliest.

United persisted in their pursuit of Van de Beek, who was participating in Ajax’s preseason preparations but was not in the squad for Saturday’s friendly with Eintracht Frankfurt. Manager Erik ten Hag cited developments in Van de Beek’s future as the reason for his omission.

Barcelona believe the only way Lionel Messi can force his way out of the club is by going on strike for the 2020-21 season, according to a report from ESPN UK’s Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.

The Catalan giants and Messi are at an impasse after La Liga backed Barcelona’s interpretation of a unilateral clause in the Argentine’s contract that would have allowed him to leave the club this summer on a free transfer.

According to the club and La Liga, that clause has expired, meaning Messi would have to sit out the upcoming season and forgo his wages before leaving next summer when his deal expires.

La Liga’s statement added Messi’s registration with a new club would not be permitted unless the €700-million release clause in his contract is matched.

Messi’s legal representatives contend the special clause, signed in 2017, should be extended due to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent work stoppage.

The 33-year-old’s legal team also argue that Messi has already triggered the stipulation in his terms, and the six-time Ballon d’Or winner was advised not to appear at Sunday’s COVID-19 testing or Monday’s preseason start so as not to compromise that claim.

The standoff is expected to result in a legal battle as the two primary parties insist on different interpretations of Messi’s contract.