Alexis Mac Allister expressed his delight after joining Liverpool from Brighton.

Mac Allister, 24, lifted the World Cup with Argentina last year and helped Roberto De Zerbi's Seagulls to a sixth-placed Premier League finish and Europa League qualification.

But the South American midfielder will now seek to invigorate Jurgen Klopp's engine room, after the Merseysiders failed to challenge for major honours this term.

Mac Allister told Liverpoolfc.com: "It feels amazing. It's a dream come true, it's amazing to be here and I can't wait to get started.

"I wanted to be in [from] the first day of pre-season, so it's good that everything is done. I'm looking forward to meeting my team-mates.

"It was a fantastic year for me — World Cup, what we achieved with Brighton — but now it's time to think about Liverpool and try to be a better player and a better human being every day.

"Since I won the World Cup, I said that I want to win more trophies and I think that this club will help me to do that — that's the aim and when you are in a big club like this one you have to win trophies. So, that's what I want.

"Since I arrived here, I can see how big this club is — the players we have, the staff, everyone. I'm really pleased and looking forward to playing for this club."

Seagull takes flight

Since making his Premier League debut in March 2020, Mac Allister made 112 appearances for Brighton, netting 20 goals.

Seagulls boss De Zerbi said: "I'm proud to have been Alexis's coach. He is a very talented player. It has also been a privilege to work with a guy who has strong and traditional values, and I want to wish him good luck for the future."

While club chairman Tony Bloom added: "We are incredibly proud of Alexis and we are sad to see him go. He did something very special, becoming the first Brighton player to win the World Cup, and was a key player in our best-ever season.

"He will always be welcome here at the Amex and in the city. On behalf of all Albion fans, I would like to thank Alexis for the many amazing memories and superb performances in a Brighton shirt and wish him well for the next chapter in his career."