Ki-Jana Hoever completes £13.5m move to Wolves ahead of Diogo Jota arrival

Liverpool youngster Ki-Jana Hoever has completed a permanent move to Wolverhampton Wanderers, with an initial fee of £9million.

The Reds will receive a further £4.5million in bonuses linked to appearances, whilst a 15% sell-on clause has also been agreed with Wolves.

Hoever joined Liverpool from Ajax for a remarkable fee of just £90,000 in 2018, with the Dutchman widely considered as one of the most promising youngsters in Europe.

Having excelled for the youth sides, he was given his first-team debut against Wolves in the FA Cup in early 2019, becoming one of the youngest players to feature for Liverpool.

He made a total of four senior appearances for the club and was expected to go out on loan to gain further experience this year.

But with finances tight due to the coronavirus pandemic and the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and fellow youngster Neco Williams ahead of him, the club were open to a permanent deal for the 18-year-old.

It's a surprise exit, all things considered, but as reported by the Athletic's James Pearce, Hoever was keen for first-team football, which Wolves were ready to offer.

“Thank you to everyone at Liverpool who has helped to play a part in my progression over the past two years on and off the pitch,” Hoever said.

“It’s been an honour to represent such a big club and be around top players and staff every day. I’ll never forget the memories I made here.”

On the fresh challenge facing him at the Molineux, he said: “I’m really excited to join such a big club like Wolves and to play in the Premier League.

“I’m really happy the club has trust in me, so the way I can give back is by playing good football and enjoying the moment.

“I’m excited to just to be playing. That’s what I love doing the most. In the stadium, playing with my teammates, hopefully with the fans soon, that’s what I love.”

The likes of Rhian Brewster, Harry Wilson, Marko Grujic and Loris Karius are set to follow Hoever out of Anfield as the Reds begin offloading those deemed surplus to requirements - for this season at least.

Diogo Jota will be confirmed as a Liverpool player in a separate deal from Wolves later on Saturday, with the clubs agreeing an initial £41m deal.

The Reds will pay just £4m (10% of the initial fee) over the next 12 months - which will be offset by Hoever's move in the opposite direction.