The England international midfielder has completed a £35 million move to Anfield from Arsenal and will take the 21 jersey last worn by Lucas Leiva. Alex Oxlade Chamberlain completed a £35 million move to Anfield from Arsenal on transfer deadline day. His arrival bolsters the midfield options available to Jurgen Klopp, with the 24-year-old helping to fill the void created by Lucas’ departure to Lazio.

Not only will he be stepping into the Brazilian’s boots on Merseyside, he will do so by wearing the same squad number as Lucas. Oxlade-Chamberlain had been number 15 at Arsenal prior to his departure from the Emirates Stadium. He is taking on a new challenge after six years in north London, where he made 198 appearances in all competitions and scored 20 goals.

Klopp moved to secure his signature on the back of a bright start to the 2017-18 campaign which has Liverpool sat second in the Premier League table with seven points from three fixtures. Olxade-Chamberlain will get the opportunity to help them build on that opening and make his debut for the club when the Reds return to domestic competition with a trip to Manchester City on September 9. Antonio Conte was desperate to bring Oxlade-Chamberlain to Chelsea – and the Premier League giants even bid for the 24-year-old – but he decided on Anfield, where he hopes to play in central midfield under Jurgen Klopp.

It’s understood the former Southampton man underwent a medical at England’s St George’s Park training base and mocked-up photographs began doing the rounds on social media. Leiva, who wore 21 from when he signed in 2007 until he left for Lazio this summer, responded to an Instagram picture, congratulating Oxlade on moving to Liverpool and taking over his number. Lucas Leiva decided to finally leave Liverpool for Lazio this year, ending a 10-year stint at the Merseyside club. The Liverpool cult hero made a total of 247 senior league appearances at Liverpool and managing just the one goal in the process.