Cody Gakpo says hello to adoring Anfield crowd as he awaits Liverpool debut

Cody Gakpo waved hello to Liverpool fans as he watched his new team's Premier League game against Leicester on Friday night.

The Netherlands international, 23, completed a move from PSV Eindhoven to Liverpool on Wednesday, with the Reds beating rivals Manchester United to his signature. The initial transfer fee was £37million, with that figure rising to £45m with add-ons.

Gakpo was ineligible to face Leicester, as he can't feature for his new club until the January transfer window opens on January 1. Nevertheless, he still got the chance to witness Anfield's famous atmosphere under the lights from the comfort of the directors' box.

Liverpool fans will be desperate to see Gakpo in action, especially due to Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz being long-term absentees. The Dutchman has been in blistering form this season, scoring nine goals and providing 12 assists in 14 Eredivisie games.

Gakpo also impressed for Netherlands at the World Cup. He scored three goals to help Louis van Gaal's side reach the quarter-finals, where they lost on penalties to eventual-winners Argentina. After that, a Premier League move seemed inevitable.

United were the favourites to sign Gakpo following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure in November. The Portugal international's contract was terminated by mutual consent after he criticised the club and manager Erik ten Hag in an interview with Piers Morgan.

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Yet United were pipped to Gakpo's signature. He believes Liverpool are the right team for him to become one of Europe's most formidable forwards and follow in the footsteps of Dutch icon Dirk Kuyt. Like his compatriot and forebear, Gakpo will wear the No.18 at Liverpool.

"I think this is a great club for me to come in and try to show what I can [do] and try to help the team to achieve more beautiful moments that they already did in the past years," Gakpo told Liverpool's website. "I think for me, personally, it's also good to develop here and there's a lot of great players here [who] I can learn a lot of things from."

Kuyt, who played for Liverpool between 2006 and 2012, has congratulated Gakpo. He tweeted: "Cody Gakpo, welcome to LFC. This number has brought me lots of magic, and I hope it will bring you the same kinda magic too. Congratulations and good luck."

Gakpo could make his Liverpool debut at Brentford in the Premier League on Monday if all the necessary paperwork is completed in time. If that doesn't happen, he may make his bow in the FA Cup tie against Wolves at Anfield on Saturday, January 7.

On why Liverpool signed Gakpo, Klopp told reporters: "The answer is pretty easy. It's obvious because he's a really, really, really good player, so the package is really interesting. The age he is in, the potential he shows, or has, and the quality he showed already in Holland and with the national team as well, so it makes him a really, really interesting player.

"And that's why we were very interested to get him in and I'm really happy that we could do it. So, big for us, big for him as well, so it's cool. He's obviously delighted about joining us. Everything will be good. So, great day, let me say it like this."