Kewell ties up Reds move
The Australian ace has signed a five-year contract, with The Reds forking out £5 million to lure Kewell to Anfield.
Kewell's dream switch to the Merseyside outfit suffered a last-minute hitch on Tuesday when Chelsea attempted to hijack the deal.
But Kewell's number one priority was always to seal a move across The Pennines to link up with his boyhood heroes and his wish has been granted by Gerard Houllier, with the Liverpool chief delighted with his new acquisition.
Houllier believes it is a mammoth fillip for the club to have pipped the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Milan and Barcelona in the race to land Kewell.
"This is a fantastic signing for the club and its fans," Houllier told the club's official website.
"After the intense media interest in the player I am delighted we have finally completed a deal which can only excite our supporters all over the world.
"When you consider the calibre of rival clubs from all over Europe competing for his signature, it's a huge boost for us ahead of the new campaign and an indication of Harry's belief in what we want to achieve here.
"Harry will join up with his new team-mates when we travel to Switzerland on Thursday for our annual pre-season training camp."
Though The Whites will be receiving £5 million from Liverpool, they have been forced to pay £2 million to Kewell's representatives to ensure the transfer was pushed through.
The Elland Road outfit released a statement to the Stock Exchange which read:
"Leeds United confirms that it has accepted an offer from Liverpool Football Club for the transfer of Harry Kewell for £5 million in cash.
"In order to effect the transfer, Leeds United has had to agree to pay a fee to representatives of Kewell in the sum of £2 million.
"The Board, having taken appropriate professional advice, felt that it had no option but to accept these terms given the context of Kewell's current contract.
"Kewell currently has only one year remaining of his contract with Leeds United. As such he would be in a position to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club in January 2004 and leave Leeds United at the end of the 2003/4 season without any transfer fee being payable."
Click here for a speaker's corner on why Leeds must accept some of the responsibility for Kewell's cut-price move.
The Kewell saga has erupted since his move, with all sides putting forward their points of view.
Click below to read the reactions from the camps.
Leeds outrage at Kewell sale
Reds dismay at Leeds Kewell stance
Mandic hits back in Kewell row
Kewell plays down early Reds talks
