Reds agree Toure deal

Liverpool Football Club can today announce they have agreed a deal in principle with Kolo Toure to join the club on July 1.

The powerful defender will be registered as a Reds player when his current deal with Manchester City expires.

Toure, 32, will arrive at Anfield boasting a wealth of experience having represented both City and Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League since switching to English football in 2002 and add depth to Brendan Rodgers' defensive ranks ahead of 2013-14.

The Ivory Coast international, signed by Arsene Wenger from homeland club ASEC Mimosas, made his Gunners debut in the 2002 Community Shield against Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium.

Originally deployed in midfield or at full-back, Toure was moved to centre-back for the 2003-04 season and helped Arsenal go the entire league season unbeaten as they swept to the title, adding to the FA Cup they'd lifted the previous season.

He added a second FA Cup medal in 2005, while a year later he was part of the Arsenal side that reached the Champions League final against Barcelona having scored the only goal of the two-legged semi-final with Villarreal.

After more than 200 appearances for the Londoners, Toure was firmly established as one of the finest centre-backs in the league - and Manchester City duly swooped to sign him in the summer of 2009 and immediately appointed him club captain.

During his four years at Eastlands, he lifted another Premier League title and FA Cup in over 100 appearances for City.

On the international stage, Toure has represented the Ivory Coast at two African Cup of Nations tournaments and two World Cup finals. He has more than a century of caps for his country, for whom he has also worn the skipper's armband.

He'll become the first Ivorian to play for Liverpool when he joins the club.

Liverpool today announced an agreement in principle to sign defender Kolo Toure – but how much do you know about the Ivorian? Brush up on your knowledge with our 10 facts about the centre-back.

1. Toure's trophy haul boasts 11 honours, including league titles at all three of his previous clubs - ASEC Mimosas, Arsenal and Manchester City. His other medals came from winning the FA Cup and Community Shield on three occasions each, along with lifting the CAF Super Cup at the age of 18.

2. Kolo is one of three brothers plying their trade in professional football, with his siblings Yaya and Ibrahim playing for Manchester City and Al-Nasr respectively. He had previously played alongside Yaya since the start of the 2010-11 campaign, when his sibling arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Barcelona.

3. Highlighting his leadership qualities, Toure has captained Arsenal, City and the Ivory Coast national team in his career. While accumulating 105 international caps, the defender has been a runner-up in the Africa Cup of Nations twice and has appeared in five matches at the World Cup. Toure has also found the net six times for his country.

4. Toure is the first Ivorian to join Liverpool in the club's history and becomes the latest player from the African continent to represent the Reds. Moroccan winger Oussama Assaidi was the last African to sign for the club. Kolo is the eighth player Brendan Rodgers has brought to Anfield since being appointed manager in the summer of 2012.

5. Having played as a winger or a striker in the very early stages of his career, Toure reverted to a defensive midfield role before eventually being deployed as a defender. After initially being a utility player for Arsenal, the 32-year-old consolidated his position at the heart of their defence and has remained a centre-back ever since.

6. In a quirky twist of fate, Toure made his first-ever Arsenal appearance against Liverpool in the FA Community Shield in 2002 and also donned the Gunners' armband for the first time when facing the Reds in the League Cup five years later.

7. Toure is the fifth player to swap Manchester City for Liverpool, following in the footsteps of Patrick Finnerhan, Matt Busby, Robbie Fowler and Craig Bellamy. The centre-back's free transfer means each of the last three deals have included no money changing hands. Eight players have travelled in the opposite direction, with the most recent being Nigel Clough in January 1996.

8. During his spells with former clubs, the Ivorian clashed with the Reds 21 times - he ran out victorious on 10 occasions, drawing seven times and losing just four matches. The defender found the net against Liverpool once, in a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in November 2006.

9. Kolo should not be short of conversation with Australian goalkeeper Brad Jones when he is introduced to the Liverpool squad - the pair share a birthday, March 19. The Ivorian is one year older than his new teammate, however - Toure was born in 1981, while Jones was born in 1982. The aforementioned Nigel Clough also celebrates his birthday on that date - he was born in 1966.

10. Brendan Rodgers is Toure's fourth different club manager since arriving on English shores, and the fourth different nationality the Ivorian has worked under. Frenchman Arsene Wenger brought the defender to Arsenal, Welshman Mark Hughes signed him for Manchester City, where Italian Roberto Mancini took the reins shortly after. Now Toure will look forward to working with Northern Irishman Rodgers.

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/10-facts-about-kolo-toure

 

Luv, there's a thread for this

 

I thought our first confirmed-ish Summer signing needed a bit more ceremony than the transfer thread.

 

That's true, might liven up the board a bit

 

It is summer, highly doubt that! We sign someone big it could though.

 

Messi it is then, let me make some phone calls, bare with me

 

Im underwhelmed by this signing...

I just hope we have another player lined up, as Toure can only be for cover, surely...???

 

Lets hope it's a Gary Mac signing and not a Joe Cole signing.
Could be good signing as he can replace Carras experience (but not his passion) . Still need one more centre back who can dominate aerially though.

 

Experience mate, I'd like to think that we'd have someone else who's a lot younger lined up.

 

well it puts kelly ans wisdom to the back of the queue it seems. if skertl and coates goes i think in the end its sensible if the wages are right

 

Not the centre back I had hoped for, but on his day (years ago) he was a top drawer defender. If he can recapture some of that form, he'd be a great third pick defender - assuming we're still to buy a first choice and Kolo isn't it!

 

He's better than Skrtel. Now we just need someone better than Carra and the squad will have improved.

 

let wait and see on it really

if we buy more and see the full context of this deal on aug 31 then it might be one everyone is happy with OR its a disaster.... either way well get more out of him that city would bother to so its a "kind of" bargain. its all down to can he cut it in the prem still... there's just no way to know

 

If Suarez can go past him in training, that means nothing.
If Sturridge can go past him in training, he's going to have a rough season, but might cope.
If Borini can go past him, he's probably past it.
If Downing can go past him in training, he needs to be shot.

 

What if Joe Allen goes past him? WITH POWER!!!!

What if he wins every heading duel with Carroll, Ngog, etc? ( Only saying Carroll as normally they come back for a bit before being sold in these circumstances).

 

Then poke him, he's clearly dreaming (or having a nightmare)

 

Better than Skrtel...??? Im not sure you can say that... Skrtel played every minute of the Prem not so long back, plus he has made a solid, if not spectacular, partnership with Agger...

I think Rodgers picked Carra over him because of it being Carra's last season and i would hope that Skrtel will be back in the starting line up from next year... imo...

 

I think this means Skrtel will be staying but rather than risk that partnership not working out we have Toure to step in (as carra did) to help out and get some leadership on the pitch.

I'm fairly happy with it to be fair because it doesn't move the younger future CB's noses to out of joint because its obvious he is just here for a season or 2 to do a job - not long term

 

This signing is a good move.

 

I think what youve said here might be closer to the truth MSG...