Official: Liverpool confirm Ben Davies signing from Preston

Nicholas Hughes

• Updated: 19 May 2021 11:39 BST
• 2 min read

Liverpool have strengthened their depth at centre-back with the signing of Ben Davies from Preston North End.

The 25-year-old completed a medical on Monday and will join his new team-mates to provide much-needed cover at the heart of the defence.

The Reds have been stretched at the back since long-term injuries suffered by Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez earlier on in the season, while Joel Matip has also had injury problems throughout the campaign.

This has forced Jurgen Klopp to adjust, playing midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson at centre-back as well as handing debuts to academy players Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips.

“I’m obviously delighted to be here,” he said.

“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.”

Davies was reportedly subject of interest from Bournemouth in the summer but Preston were holding out for £10 million at the time.

Now with only six months left on his contract at Deepdale, the Reds have snared him for a reported £500,000 up front with add-ons of up to £1.1 million included in the deal.

Will Ben Davies fit in at Liverpool?

Davies has played in 19 of Preston’s 27 games so far, with the Lilywhites currently sitting in 12^th on the Championship table.

The Englishman began his career with PNE in their academy and has had a host of loan spells throughout his career, the most recent one coming four years ago at Fleetwood Town.

Davies arrives as the only left-footed centre back in the Liverpool team which could add another dimension to the Reds’ build-up play.

He will now begin training with his new teammates but is unlikely to be thrown straight in against Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday night.

With a busy yet important period of fixtures coming up Davies may be edged slowly into the side, but with games still coming thick and fast he should have plenty of opportunities to feature.