Liverpool complete Luis Diaz transfer after hijacking Spurs move for Porto star

Liverpool have completed the signing of Porto winger Luis Diaz for a fee which could eventually rise to £50m.

The Colombia international moves to Anfield immediately, with the Reds completing one of the standout deals of the January transfer window despite Diaz initially appearing destined for a move to Tottenham.

Diaz has signed a five-and-a-half year contract at Anfield which runs until summer 2027.

A statement on Liverpool's website read: "Liverpool Football Club have completed the signing of Luis Diaz from FC Porto, subject to the successful granting of a work permit and international clearance.

"The 25-year-old has signed a long-term contract with the Reds after passing a medical and finalising personal terms.

"Diaz will arrive on Merseyside once he has completed international duty with Colombia, who face Argentina in a World Cup qualifier in Cordoba on Tuesday evening.

"He joins Liverpool after two-and-a-half seasons with FC Porto, where he made 125 appearances and scored 41 goals, and will wear the No.23 shirt.

"The forward faced the Reds twice in this season's Champions League group stage with the Portuguese side and had netted 14 times in 18 league runouts this term.

"He had previously represented Barranquilla FC and Junior FC in his homeland before making the switch to Europe in 2019.

"To date, Diaz has 31 caps for Colombia, with seven goals for his country."

Spurs boss Antonio Conte had hoped to sign the 25-year-old after holding positive talks with his representatives, but Liverpool jumped ahead in the race for Diaz's services at the 11th hour.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is a huge fan of the Colombian, who was the joint-top scorer at last year's Copa America and has struck 14 goals in 18 Portuguese Primeira Liga matches this season.

Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com: "I could not be happier that we've been able to get this deal done and bring Luis to Liverpool.

"I have always been a believer in only signing players in January if you would want to sign them in the summer, and that's very much the case with Luis.

"He is an outstanding player and someone we've been tracking for a very long time.

"We believe he has everything needed to fit into our way and adapt to the Premier League, both physically and mentally. He is a player who is hungry for success and knows you have to fight to get what you want. He is a fighter, no doubt. He's a skilful team player who has always the goal in mind.

"This team deserved to add quality and when we played against Luis earlier this season, we saw what a danger he is, how fast he is and how his mentality was to help his team."

Klopp also explained how Porto were "tough" negotiators, with the move set to cost an initial £37.5m, with £12.5m in additional payments based on performance.

He added: "I also must make clear my appreciation to our ownership and football operations team for how they have managed to act so decisively to get this done.

"Luis is a player we believe will make us better now and in the future. He is the player we really wanted and they've made it happen, so I am very happy."

Manchester United had also been monitoring Diaz as well as Tottenham, and Liverpool's move for the attacker will frustrate their Premier League rivals.

Diaz will supplement Liverpool's current attacking talents Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota, with questions now surfacing around the futures of fringe players Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi.

With Salah, Mane and Firmino also all out of contract in 2023, Diaz's arrival could also impact the Reds' more established forwards.