Liverpool forward Divock Origi has signed new long-term deal with the Reds, the UEFA Champions League winners confirmed on Wednesday.
Liverpool have made an official statement to confirm that Divock Origi’s journey at the club is set to continue. The Belgian forward has put pen to paper on a new long-term deal with the six-time UEFA Champions League winners, as he gets set to begin his sixth year with the club.
It takes but a few months of game changing performances for a footballer to turn his fortunes around; Divock Origi is a prime example to this effect. Up until the summer of 2018, having completed four years at Liverpool, the Belgian looked like an afterthought.
The journey continues. ✊? pic.twitter.com/PqL1xwulwd
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 10, 2019
In fact, in the two full seasons that he had spent at Anfield, Origi managed to start just 36 games, playing second fiddle to the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino. Having failed to impress while on-loan at VfL Wolfsburg, where he managed to score just seven goals in 37 appearances, things looked bleak for the 24-year-old last summer.
There had unsurprisingly been rumours linking the player with a move away from Liverpool. But in the end, the Belgian international ended up staying put. And, the decision of keeping him proved to be a masterstroke on the part of Jurgen Klopp and the Reds’ decision makers.
While the young striker was only a part of a first-team starting eleven on seven occasions, apart from 15 other substitute appearances, the kind of impact he made in those outings ended up making him a key part of Liverpool’s setup, particularly in the second half of the season.
Origi helped keep Liverpool’s Premier League title bid alive with the match winners against Everton and Newcastle United. More importantly, with three goals from as many shots on target in the UEFA Champions League, including the goal that booked their place in the final, Origi was pivotal to Liverpool’s sixth triumph in the competition.
Having played an important role in the Champions League success, it was no wonder that there had been reports claiming that Liverpool wished to reward the 24-year-old with a brand new contract. And, the Merseyside club have now reached an agreement with the Belgian over a new long-term deal.
While the duration of the contract is unclear thus far, what appears certain is that he is set to begin his sixth year with the Merseyside outfit, including the two years out on loan. And, Origi expressed his happiness at extending his stay with Liverpool.
“I’m very happy to be able to sign this contract and it gives you a boost at the beginning of the season, as well as the end of the season last year. So I’m very happy. I always felt comfortable here. I made steps during my career, I say that I became a man here at this club, I signed when I was 19.”
Only time will tell if Divock Origi will have a bigger role to play for Liverpool in the upcoming season. For now, the Belgian forward can do no wrong and is on cloud nine, having renewed terms with the Reds.
