Balotelli completes Liverpool move
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Liverpool, England (SportsNetwork.com) - Liverpool confirmed on Monday that the club has completed the signing of striker Mario Balotelli from AC Milan on a long-term contract.
The 24-year-old has passed a medical and agreed to personal terms in order to pave the way for him to become the ninth signing of the summer for manager Brendan Rodgers.
Balotelli joins Liverpool for a fee of $26.5 million after he spent the past 18 months at AC Milan, where he netted 30 goals in 54 appearances for the Rossoneri.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I'm very happy. We've been talking about coming here and now I'm happy to be here," Balotelli told Liverpool's website upon completing his move. "Liverpool are one of the best teams here in England and the football is very good here. It's a great team with young players, and that's why I came here."
The Italy international already has experience in the Premier League having helped Manchester City capture the 2011-12 Premier League crown after moving to England from Inter Milan.
Balotelli has won 33 caps for Italy during his international career, scoring 13 goals, and he will be expected to help replace the production of Luis Suarez, who led Liverpool with 31 goals last season and who departed for Barcelona over the summer.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In addition to Balotelli, Rodgers has also recruited Dejan Lovren, Javi Manquillo, Alberto Moreno, Emre Can, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Lazar Markovic and Divock Origi to Anfield in this transfer window.