Sadio Mane becomes most expensive African player in history

Liverpool have completed the signing of Sadio Mane for £34m from Southampton.

He joins on a five-year deal and is Liverpool’s third summer signing after German goalkeeper Loris Karius and Cameroon defender Joel Matip.

The 24-year-old Senegal striker’s fee could rise to £36m, eclipsing the £35m paid in 2011 for Andy Carroll, the Reds’ most expensive signing.

Mane scored 21 goals in 67 Premier League appearances for Saints after joining for £10m from Salzburg in 2014.

“Today is a big day and I am very happy to sign for one of the biggest clubs in Europe,” he told the club’s official website.

“It’s a club that has won a lot of trophies and has a big history.”

Mane becomes the most expensive African player in history, with his transfer topping the £28m deal that Manchester City paid Swansea City for Wilfried Bony in January 2015.

He is the latest in a string of players to make the switch from St Mary’s to Anfield in recent seasons.

Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert and Nathaniel Clyne have all moved to Liverpool since the summer of 2014.

Mane played for Southampton out wide and centrally, and will compete for a striking position with Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Christian Benteke.

However, Benteke – a £32.5m signing from Aston Villa last summer – has said he will consider leaving if manager Jurgen Klopp continues to leave him out next season.

Southampton have already sold Victor Wanyama to Tottenham for £11m, and remain without a manager since Ronald Koeman departed for Everton.

Frenchman Claude Puel, 54, who led Nice to fourth in the French top flight last season, is the favourite for the vacant manager’s position at St Mary’s. BBC Sport