With Joel Matip announced as the second player set to join Liverpool at the end of the 2015/16 season, supporters praised the club’s swift move.
Matip joins on a free transfer, having entered the final months of his contract with Bundesliga challengers Schalke.
The 24-year-old will arrive at Anfield with a raft of experience, having spent the past 16 years with the Gelsenkirchen side, competing regularly in the Champions League.
This is the second signing manager Jurgen Klopp has lined up for his first full season in charge at Liverpool, joining Red Star Belgrade’s powerful midfielder, Marko Grujic.
Matip is the more high-profile acquisition, and this move has seen a largely positive reaction form the Liverpool support.
Most hailed this latest signing, as Klopp builds his squad for the 2016/17 campaign…
We're getting Matip! Yesssss quality signing!!! @LFC
— // (@aggzzx) February 15, 2016
Joel Matip on a bosman!! Bargain of the decade
— ???? (@TheRaheelDeal21) February 15, 2016
Joël Matip. Good signing Klopp ?
— dot (@firdauus) February 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/wagbolegend/status/699229228085198849
Klopp was famous at Dortmund for signing free or cheap players and developing them. #Matip is one of them
— Tommy ? (@tommy7875) February 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/Chris78Williams/status/699230863716909057
https://twitter.com/paulxblog/status/699230946462208000
Joel Matip on free transfer. Good business that.
— ? (@baenaja) February 15, 2016
Really pleased with the Matip signing. Shrewd "free" transfer. That's how we should be building the squad side of things. Improvements at
— Jason Roberts (@JaseRoberts_) February 15, 2016
low cost. We've wasted far too much money on squad players in the past. Matip may even push on to become a regular & fulfil his potential.
— Jason Roberts (@JaseRoberts_) February 15, 2016
Joel Matip looks a really good signing tbh. Strong and quick CB decent in the air, exactly what we need. #LFC
— DJL ? ? (@Super7lfc) February 15, 2016
Joel Matip isn't the answer, long term, but is better than all Liverpool RCB's and his versatility will benefit the squad
— John O'Sullivan (@NotoriousJOS) February 9, 2016
Klopp gets Matip for free. Rodgers would have got Williams for £20m.
— Jonas (@Jona2en) February 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/PerryLFC1997/status/699229207877050368
While others focussed on the efficiency of Liverpool’s business under the former Borussia Dortmund manager…
https://twitter.com/Pheo7/status/699229557304508416
Nice to see Jürgen getting a head start on transfers for next season. German efficiency at its best #Matip
— Kauser Soze (@NinaKauser) February 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/smtm_LFC/status/699227386634698752
I lov Klopp's way of business. Grujic for 5m and Matip for free. 2 great deals. #LFC
— Swapnil (@thecipherstory) February 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/IndoLiverpoolfc/status/699228188480671744
https://twitter.com/jacklusby_/status/699227867964710912
At the forefront of the praise for Matip came with his physicality, with the Cameroon international standing at 6’3″…
Great move by LFC to acquire Matip. Great to see some height on the back line. #LFC
— Alfredo Rodriguez (@fredo_5) February 15, 2016
Joel Matip is a good signing… Has a got good height and heading ability to survive in the PL and he is a good passer of the ball.
— Abhinav Katkam (@LFC_Joker) February 15, 2016
Great to have height in the team again. Something we have missed lately. Matip 6ft4 and Grujic 6ft2. Good presence that. #LFC
— Scott (@ScottBerko) February 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/stephen_ks/status/692340633671983105
The average height of Klopp's Dortmund team was 6'1. It makes sense considering present players height. Grujic and Matip both stand 6'4.
— Sudarshan (@SrinzzzLFC) February 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/TheAlonsoRole/status/699171311210393602
Meanwhile, the Liverpool Echo‘s Ian Doyle jokingly conjured memories of one-season wonder Rigobert Song…
A Cameroon international centre-back at #LFC – what could possibly go wrong?
— Ian Doyle (@IanDoyleSport) February 15, 2016
- Scout Report: Joel Matip: Profiling the Schalke centre-back