Liverpool have signed striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for a British-record fee of £130m (€150m).
Isak has signed a six-year contract and will wear the number nine shirt at Anfield, ending a saga in which the Sweden international effectively forced through his departure from St James' Park.
The Merseysiders, who saw a £35m move for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi collapse at the 11th hour on deadline day, brought an end to the soap opera involving the Swedish striker by confirming the mega-money move for the frontman.
Isak netted 54 times in 86 Premier League outings for the Magpies, with 23 of those goals coming last season, when he finished second behind Mohamed Salah in the race for the Golden Boot.
"It's been a long journey to get here," he said. "But I’m super-happy to be a part of this team, this club and everything it stands for. It’s something I’m proud of and I’m really looking forward to it.
"I’m just happy it’s done and that I can get back to work. I’m looking forward to seeing my teammates and the fans, and getting back out there."
Newcastle United released a 37-word statement confirming the player's departure without thanking the player for his time at the club as a saga that has dragged on all summer, and one which has left a bitter taste, finally ended.
The Reds had a £110m (€127m) offer rejected in August and since then the 25-year-old has not trained with or played for Newcastle, but in the final hours of the transfer window a deal was reached to end the impasse.
The Magpies, who announced the signing of striker Nick Woltemade on Saturday, finally relented after accepting the player did not want to play for them any longer. He accused the Toon of breaking a commitment that he could leave if a suitable offer came from a big club.
Isak was left out of Newcastle's pre-season tour of Asia with what was said to be a thigh injury, but has been absent from the squad ever since and at one stage was training alone at former club Real Sociedad.
He becomes Liverpool's eighth first-team signing of the summer, marking the second time they have broken their own transfer record following the £110m (€127m) capture of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.
It could have been a ninth signing, but Guehi's £35m move from Crystal Palace broke down in the dying embers of deadline day.
Palace’s aborted bid to land Brighton defender Igor Julio as a replacement is understood to be the reason why the Eagles pulled the plug on the deadline-day deal.
Palace had brought in Toulouse centre-back Jaydee Canvot earlier on deadline day but were unwilling to let Guehi leave without a further addition – and Julio's decision to move to West Ham effectively scuppered the deal.
Guehi, whose contract at Selhurst Park runs out at the end of the season, had completed a medical and looked set to swell manager Arne Slot’s defensive options after a deal move was agreed, only for Julio to opt for a loan to West Ham instead of the Eagles.
Palace were already reluctant to let Guehi leave for anything less than £40m, but with the 25-year-old in the final year of his contract, they had grudgingly accepted Liverpool’s valuation.
Guehi will now return to south London, where he appeared to have played his final game on Sunday when he scored in his side’s 3-0 thrashing of Aston Villa.
Liverpool have already brought in more than €230m in sales this summer following the departures of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher, Tyler Morton, Ben Gannon-Doak and Nat Phillips.
Shortly after the champions announced Isak, it was confirmed that Newcastle had landed their own long-term target Yoane Wissa.
Brentford's 28-year-old DR Congo international, who was born in France, has joined the Magpies for an undisclosed fee, which is understood could eventually amount to £55million (€64m), on a long-term contract, subject to Premier League approval, and will wear the club’s famous number nine shirt.
Wissa’s efforts to force his way out of Brentford have not differed too starkly from the tactics employed by Alexander Isak in engineering his move.
That may sit uncomfortably with some fans on Tyneside but his addition to an attacking pool already boosted by the signing of Germany international Woltemade, will ease some of the pain for head coach Eddie Howe.
Wissa said: "I’m really happy to be here and to sign for one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League.
"I’m very, very excited to put on the black and white shirt. I’ve got dreams, I’ve got faith, and now I will do my best to make it all happen. I can’t wait to get started."
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