Liverpool have completed the capture of Salzburg winger Takumi Minamino for a reported £7.25million fee.

The Japan international will link up with the Premier League leaders when the transfer window opens on January 1.

Minamino, 24, passed a medical and finalised personal terms on Wednesday and will become the club's first mid-season arrival since Virgil van Dijk joined from Southampton two years ago.

Reports of the Reds' interest gathered pace after Minamino shone for Salzburg in a Champions League loss to Liverpool this month.

The Cerezo Osaka product scored at Anfield in their first Group E encounter in October and said he was thrilled to be moving to the European champions.

"It has been a dream, my dream to become a Liverpool player. And I'm so excited that the moment has come true," Minamino told his new club's website.

"To play in the Premier League was one of my targets. I think this is the top-class league in the world. I was thinking if my career as a footballer progressed smoothly, someday I would be able to play in the Premier League.

"But I never thought I would be able to play in this team and I'm really happy about it. I'm looking forward to it."

Minamino was left highly impressed with the "technique and intensity" he witnessed in the games against Jurgen Klopp's side and wants to boost the club's bid for further silverware.

"Their football is of such a high level and I did feel that they were the champions of the Champions League," said the attacker, who will leave Salzburg after five years that yielded 42 goals at 20 assists in the Austrian Bundesliga.

"Feeling that, it makes me feel even happier that I can play in this team. I'm really happy to be part of that team.

"My target is to win the Premier League and the Champions League, and to make good contributions to the team."