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Who is new Liverpool signing Ragnar Klavan?

Ragnar Klavan, new signing of Liverpool at Melwood Training Ground on July 20, 2016 in

Liverpool have signed Augsburg centre-back Ragnar Klavan - but who is the Estonian defender?

Here, we profile Klavan and look at what he'll bring to Liverpool…

Klavan signs for Liverpool
Klavan signs for Liverpool

Liverpool have completed the signing of centre-back Ragnar Klavan

FACTFILE

Age: 30

Position: Centre-back

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25:  James Milner of Liverpool and Ragnar Klavan of Augsburg compete for the ball during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 s
Image: Klavan played in both legs of Augsburg's defeat to Liverpool in the Europa League last season

Club signed from: Augsburg

Nationality: Estonian

Also See:

International caps: 108

Ragnar Klavan of Augsburg
Image: Klavan has played over 30 league games in each of his last four seasons with Augsburg

Background

Klavan kicked off his career with Estonian side Elva in 2001 at the age of 15 and went on to win the league and domestic super cup with Tallinn-based Flora in 2003.

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Here's a look at Ragnar Klavan's stats after his move to Liverpool was completed

He then spent seven seasons in the Netherlands' top flight with Heracles Almelo and AZ, winning the Eredivisie title with the latter under Louis van Gaal in 2008/09 after joining on loan in January ahead of a permanent summer switch.

During the second half of the 2008/09 season, Klavan formed a key part of the meanest defence in the division and helped AZ on a club-record 28-game unbeaten run.

The team players of Dutch football team AZ carry their coach Louis van Gaal during the celebration of the championshipins in Alkmaar, The Netherlands, on A
Image: Klavan helped Louis van Gaal's AZ win the Eredivisie in 2008/09

Klavan moved on to the Bundesliga in 2012 with Augsburg, where he has become a mainstay in their backline, making over 30 league appearances in each of his four seasons in Germany.

The defender came up against Liverpool in the Europa League round of 32 last season, keeping a clean sheet in Germany before losing the second leg at Anfield 1-0 through a James Milner penalty.

International duty

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 09:  Ragnar Klavan of Estonia holds off Harry Kane of England during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E qualifying match between England
Image: Klavan holds off Harry Kane during a Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley

Klavan has been an Estonia international for 13 years since making his debut in the Baltic Cup against Lithuania in 2003 and has racked up 108 appearances for his country, wearing the captain's armband since 2012.

In October 2014 he was sent off 48 minutes into Estonia's Euro 2016 qualifier with England, picking up a second yellow for bundling Fabian Delph to the ground. England went on to win that match 1-0 thanks to a Wayne Rooney free-kick and Klavan suffered another defeat to the Three Lions at Wembley the following year, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2-0 loss.

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Jurgen Klopp says there will be transfer activity at Liverpool in both directions before the end of the window

What's his style?

At 6ft 1in, Klavan is a powerful, left-footed player, strong in the air and ranked fourth in terms of clearances per game (5.8) of Bundesliga centre-backs to have made over 20 appearances last season.

He has also shown he isn't afraid to put his body on the line - only new Liverpool defender Joel Matip made more blocks than Klavan in the German top flight.

However, Klavan is comfortable with the ball at his feet, too. He was tied for 25th in the Bundesliga for passing accuracy in 2015/16, with his 85.3 per cent success rate superior to Premier League figures for Dejan Lovren (84.6 per cent) and Kolo Toure (81.5 per cent) and equal to Martin Skrtel.

Klavan has been named Estonian footballer of the year three times - including in each of the last two years. 

What role will he play at Liverpool?

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25:  Mamadou Sakho of Liverpool and Ragnar Klavan of Augsburg compete for the ball during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32
Image: Klavan could provide reliable cover for the injured Mamadou Sakho at Liverpool

With Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez sidelined with injury, Tiago Ilori set for Olympic duty with Portugal and Toure and Skrtel departed from the club, Klopp is short on centre-back options for the start of the new Premier League season.

Given his Champions League, Europa League and top-flight experience, Klavan looks like he would be a reliable squad player at Anfield.

Did you know?

Klavan missed out on a previous move to the Premier League when he failed to make the grade during a trial with Sunderland as a teenager.

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