Reds seal Enrique deal

Liverpool have completed the signing of Newcastle defender Jose Enrique after the left-back put the finishing touches to a long-term deal at Anfield

Liverpool have completed the signing of Newcastle defender Jose Enrique after the left-back put the finishing touches to a long-term deal at Anfield.

Negotiations were concluded swiftly after the 25-year-old travelled from the north-east to have a medical at the club's Melwood training ground yesterday.

The Spaniard is believed to have cost the Reds in the region of £6million.

"This is one of the happiest days of my life," he told liverpoolfc.tv. "I have come to one of the biggest clubs not just in England, but in the world. I am really, really happy."

Enrique becomes Liverpool's fifth signing of the summer, following Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Alexander Doni.

If all the paperwork on the transfer is cleared by the Premier League by noon then the player would technically be available for tomorrow's opening league match at home to Sunderland, although whether manager Kenny Dalglish would throw him in after just one training session remains to be seen.

Enrique admits he is keen to seize his first chance at a "big club".

"They have won a lot of things including the Champions League," said the defender, who joined Newcastle from Villarreal in 2007 for £6.3million.

"They have amazing players and I hope to win things here. In Spain there is a saying 'When the train comes in, you have to take it.'

"This is the first time a big club has come in for me and I had to take it (the opportunity). I am really happy.

"Everybody speaks about the fans here and they are amazing. I am looking forward to it. I am looking forward to playing in front of the Kop. I hope it will be this weekend, but if not I can wait."