Liverpool New signing: Sturridge

Sturridge set for Cup debut after completing £12m move to Liverpool from Chelsea

By ADAM SHERGOLD

Liverpool have confirmed the signing of striker Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea.

The 23-year-old will be paraded at Anfield tonight before the Barclays Premier League match with Sunderland and could be available for Sunday's FA Cup third round tie at Mansfield. 

It is believed the transfer fee is in the region of £12m. 

Enlarge 

New striker: Daniel Sturridge shows off his Liverpool number 15 shirt after joining the club from Chelsea for £12m

Sign here, please: Sturridge shakes hands with Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre after completing the deal

Welcome to Anfield: Sturridge takes a look around the famous stadium after joining Liverpool

 

Sturridge, who has four caps for England, signed a long-term contract at Liverpool's Melwood training ground this morning.

Sturridge told Liverpool's official website: 'I am humbled and happy to be here.

'Brendan Rodgers said he sees me here for a long time - and I also see myself here for a long time. I've not signed here to play for a couple of years and then move on.

'I've signed to be here for as long as possible. It's a humongous club - for me, one of the biggest in the world - and to have the fans and world-class players we have here is amazing.'

He added: 'I see myself as a striker. I think I perform best there because my attributes, I believe, are best as a central striker. But I have played on the wing and have learned a lot doing so. 

'I’d never refuse to play in that position and I’ve never demanded to play up front, either. 

'For me, whatever the manager wants me to do I will do it and work as hard as I can for the club and the fans. I’ll try to put a smile on the fans’ faces and try to bring some success to the club - it would be amazing.'

And on teaming up with Luis Suarez he was equally excited. 

'To have him as a teammate is great,' Sturridge said. 'He’s a very good player, very talented and rated as a one of the best players in attacking positions in the world right now. It’s good to be part of a team with him in and I’m sure we’ll be able to play well together.

'Happy and humbled': Sturridge said he was delighted to be joining Liverpool

New signing: Sturridge, a full England international, scored 24 goals in all for Chelsea

Champion: Sturridge with the European Cup after Chelsea's dramatic triumph over Bayern Munich earlier this year

'Of course. With Luis, Raheem [Sterling] and the other players that are here, it’s going to be great for myself and I’m sure we’ll connect well together. We all have similar attributes, so hopefully we’ll be able to create a few nightmares for defenders.'

Sturridge was born in Birmingham but began his professional career at Manchester City, where he was top scorer when they lifted the FA Youth Cup in 2008. 

A year later, he was snapped up by Chelsea for an initial fee of £3.5m decided by a tribunal, and scored 24 times in total during his time there.

He also scored eight times in 12 appearances while on loan at Bolton Wanderers during the 2010-2011 season. 

He has four caps for England, five for Great Britain during the Olympics and 15 for England Under 21.

Sturridge has the 2010 Premier League, 2012 European Cup and 2010 and 2012 FA Cups in his trophy cabinet. 

STURRIDGE TIMELINE

1989: Born September 1, in Birmingham.
2003: Signs for Manchester City's academy at the age of 13, following trials with Aston Villa and Coventry.
2004: Named player of the tournament and finishes as top scorer as City win the Under-15 Nike Cup.
2006: Signs professional contract with City.
2007: February 3 - Makes City debut in 2-0 defeat to Reading.
2008: January 27 - Scores first professional goal in a 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United.
2009: Finishes the season with four goals in 26 appearances.
July 3 - Turns down a new deal at City to sign for Chelsea.
August 11 - Earns first England Under-21 cap against Netherlands.
2010: January 2 - Scores first goals for Chelsea, in a 5-0 FA Cup thrashing of Watford.
May 15 - Comes off the bench at Wembley as Chelsea secure a Premier League and FA cup double by beating Portsmouth 1-0.
2011: January 11 - Joins Bolton on a loan deal until the end of the season,
February 2 - Scores 90th-minute winner on his Bolton debut as Wanderers beat Wolves 1-0.
May 22 - Sent-off during his final Bolton appearance against former club Manchester City. Scored eight goals in 12 games during the loan spell.
October 2 - Scores a brace during Chelsea's 5-1 thrashing of former club Bolton.
November 15 - Makes England debut as a second-half substitute in a 1-0 victory over Sweden.
2012: April 29 - Scores the opener in a 6-1 victory over London rivals QPR to keep Chelsea's hopes of Champions League qualification alive.
May 19 - Remains on the bench as an unused substitute as Chelsea beat Bayern Munich on penalties to win the Champions League for the first time.
July-August - Makes a full recovery from meningitis to represent Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics in London, scoring against both the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay but missing a crucial penalty against South Korea in the quarter-finals.
October 31 - On the scoresheet as Chelsea need extra time to eliminate Manchester United and reach the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup with a 5-4 victory.
2013: January 2 - Leaves Chelsea to join Liverpool for an undisclosed fee. After signing a long-term contract, he says: 'I am humbled and happy to be here. I've not signed to play for a couple of years and then move on. I've signed to be here for as long as possible. It's a humongous club.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football