Giorgi Mamardashvili pictured in Liverpool kit for first time as Arne Slot makes first transfer

Giorgi Mamardashvili has been pictured in a Liverpool kit for the first team as the club prepares to announce its first signing of the summer.

Liverpool has left it late in the transfer window to make a signing but Georgian goalkeeper Mamardashvili is arriving in a deal worth $39million.

Mamardashvili, who shone for Georgia in Euro 2024, will return to Valencia on loan rather than move straight to Anfield , where he would only be Alisson's back-up.

Liverpool arranged for Mamardashvili's medical to take place in Spain on Monday. Valencia are back in La Liga action away to Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday and the goalkeeper is expected to line up in goal for the visitors.

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A loan move back to Valencia made sense for all parties, given Mamardashvili made it clear earlier in the summer that he was not willing to join a team that he would not be first choice for.

Amid links to Bayern Munich, he had said: "Bayern still have the best goalkeeper in the world [in Manuel Neuer]. It’s currently not possible to move there. I would only go there if I’ll play. If I don’t play, then not.”

Alisson confirmed in a recent interview with The Times that he was aware that Liverpool were in the process of signing of the youngster, and said he backed the transfer.

"The club needs to prepare for the future," he said. "We are not going to last forever here, I am getting old! No, for a goalkeeper I am still young, I have a lot of energy and I still have much to give for this club and I want to give to the club as much as I can.

“They will do it for different positions as well. We have so many important players with the contract expiring and the club needs to organise themselves for the future.

“I think it was a good idea. I knew about that [Mamardashvili] before it came out on social media and that is a good message for me because the club cares about what I think.

“They are doing the right thing but, on my side, as long as I have my contract here and as long as I am happy here, the club is happy with me, my family is happy here, [so] I will stay.”