Liverpool has signed Belgian striker Divock Origi from Lille

LIVERPOOL have signed 19-year-old Belgium striker Divock Origi from Lille, but say they’ll loan him back to the French side for the 2014-15 campaign.

FILE - In this Sunday, June 22, 2014 file photo, Belgium's Divock Origi, center, celebrates with teammates Daniel Van Buyten, left, and Belgium's Axel Witsel, right, after Origi scored the opening goal during the group H World Cup soccer match between Belgium and Russia at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Liverpool says it has signed Belgium striker Divock Origi from Lille and will loan him back to the French club for the whole of next season. The 19-year-old forward, who impressed during Belgium’s run to the quarterfinals of the World Cup, completed his transfer in the United States - where Liverpool is on a pre-season tour. The club said he had signed a “long-term deal” without giving details. British media put the transfer fee at 10 million pounds ($17 million). Origi, who joined Lille from Genk in 2010, says “Liverpool is one of the greatest clubs in the world and I’m very excited to be part of this great history.” (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev, file)

LIVERPOOL have signed 19-year-old Belgium striker Divock Origi from Lille, but say they’ll loan him back to the French side for the 2014-15 campaign.

“I am very happy and delighted a club as big as Liverpool showed interest in me. I’m very excited,” Origi told the Liverpool website.

“I know it’s a club with a great history, great fans and a lot of great players. For me, Liverpool is one of the greatest clubs in the world and I’m very excited to be part of this great history.”

Origi travelled to the US, where Liverpool are on a pre-season tour, in order to complete the deal. Liverpool didn’t disclose the length of his contract.

After a breakthrough campaign with Lille in 2013-14, Origi impressed for Belgium at the World Cup, scoring an 88th-minute winner against Russia in the group phase to send his team into the last 16.

Origi is Liverpool’s fifth close-season signing, following the arrivals of the former Southampton trio of Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, and Dejan Lovren, and German midfielder Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen.

While the teenager will have to wait at least a year before making his Liverpool debut, he is already excited about the prospect of becoming a part of manager Brendan Rodgers’s side.

“The fact we have a young team and can grow is the most exciting part,” he said.

“With the coach we have, he’s a great manager who can handle a young team. He’s said a lot of good things about Liverpool and told me it’s the perfect club for me.

“This year I’ll have a chance to play at European level, in the Europa League or Champions League.”

Liverpool narrowly lost out to Manchester City in the battle for last season’s Premier League title.

They start the 2014-15 season at home to Southampton on August 17.

Originally published as Liverpool has signed Belgian striker Divock Origi from Lille