Liverpool have completed the
signing of AEK Athens defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos to a two-year
contract.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez said:
"He has had experience in Scotland with Rangers, and in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt
as well as with the Greek national side.
"He is strong and good in the air, and we were looking for
experience and he is the perfect answer."
Kyrgiakos, who has been capped 50 times by Greece and will be
unveiled to the media tomorrow, described his decision to move to
England as "the biggest challenge of my career".
The tough-tackling defender moved back to Greece in 2008 after
one season at Rangers and two
with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Benitez maintains that Kyrgiakos will be an excellent signing
for the Reds, saying: "He is a tough defender who is strong and
good in the air.
"He has a strong character and we were looking for these
things.
"He can score goals and will be a threat from corners and
free-kicks. He is very strong in defence but he will need time as
always to settle into the Premier
League. He will be a very good signing for us.
"We knew the player when he was with Rangers and we've been watching videos of him at
Frankfurt and the national team. Our scout department had a lot of
information.
"We have talked about the things he has done before and the
things he will have to do for us. It was good. He knows what we
want and he's ready to work."