Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool have bolstered their defence with the signing of centre-back Ben Davies from Preston North End.
Davies (25) was unveiled as a Liverpool player on Monday after completing a deal worth a potential £2 million (R41.5 million) from Championship side Preston, with young Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg moving in the opposite direction on loan for the remainder of the season.
"I'm obviously delighted to be here," Davies told the club's website. "It's a huge opportunity. Obviously, it came as a bit of a surprise when it first came but once you start to get your head around it, the opportunity that is in front of me is incredible. I'd be silly to not make the most of it and learn off the players [at the club].
"I've never actually been to Anfield and I haven't had a look around yet. I had a quick look out and had a look at the pitch and it looks like carpet, which obviously you'd expect. I haven't actually walked out of the tunnel yet, so I'm looking forward to that. Just to be in this kind of atmosphere is brilliant."
The centre-back has signed a long-term contract with Jurgen Klopp's side and arrives as a timely reinforcement amid the club's ongoing injury crisis in defence, which has seen the Merseysiders crippled by long-term injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
Liverpool's plight has been compounded by recent injuries to Joel Matip and defensive stand-in Fabinho, leaving the inexperienced duo of Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips as the club's only two recognised centre-backs heading into deadline day.
With Davies' contract at Preston set to expire at the end of the season, the left-footed centre-back was seen as a cost-effective solution to the Reds' current problems, and he could be thrown straight into the deep end on Wednesday when the Reds play host to Brighton Hove Albion in the Premier League.
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"I want to come in and play games to start with," he added. "I want to get my foot in the door and make myself a Premier League player rather than obviously a Championship player. And then take it from there really."
"I know we've got some top players here and players I can certainly learn from. Once you get your foot in the door then you're here as well. Hopefully, I can take my chance and then move forward with it.
"I'm looking forward to coming in and playing in front of everyone and showing everyone what I can do. I'm sure a lot of fans and people don't know me or haven't even seen me play. It's definitely an exciting time and I think they'll quite enjoy watching me when I'm playing well."
Davies has been handed the No. 28 jersey to wear at Liverpool which was most recently worn by former club striker Danny Ings.