Joel Matip Signs New Long-Term Contract With Liverpool

​Joel Matip has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool, having emerged as a key player under Jurgen Klopp in the last year.

Matip, who has displaced Joe Gomez as the Reds' regular starting centre back alongside Virgil van Dijk, helped Liverpool win the Champions League during the 2018/19 season and has featured in six of their eight Premier League games so far this term.

Liverpool's statement makes no mention of the exact length of the new deal, but BBC Sport claim the contract should keep him on Merseyside until 2024.

Matip told Liverpool's website after signing the contract: “It’s a great feeling to be a longer part of the club. It’s really just a great feeling.

“From outside, you know Liverpool is such a big club – but when you are inside, then you really get a feeling for how big the club is. In all the countries, the supporters are everywhere. It’s a massive and big club that I think every player would want to play for.

“We have a young and talented team and I think every one of us is hungry. Now we’ve seen how it is to win something and we want to have that feeling again.

“There are a lot of things still to achieve. You never know how it will end, you just have to work hard and do the best you can do. Then we will see.

“It is an honour to be a part of the club. It makes me happy that people think I’ve done a good job and they want to keep me.”

​Liverpool announced the signing of Matip in February 2016, with the former Cameroon international signing a four-year pre-contract agreement for the Anfield side whilst with Bundesliga side Schalke.

Joel Matip

While he was initially unconvincing, the 28-year-old has since established himself as the ideal partner to Van Dijk, meaning Gomez and Dejan Lovren have had to make do with occasional appearances.

He has played an important role in Liverpool's impressive start to this season and has even scored a couple of goals, netting in the Community Shield against ​Manchester City and in the ​Premier League against ​Arsenal.


Source : 90min