[Liverpool FC/Getty/Kyodo]

TOKYO - Liverpool have reached an agreement with Red Bull Salzburg on the transfer of Japan international Takumi Minamino, the English Premier League club said Thursday.

The 24-year-old has passed a medical and will officially become a Liverpool player on Jan. 1, the club announced on their website.

 "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 Liverpoolfc.com

"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."

A versatile attacker, Minamino has played primarily on the right wing for Austrian champions Salzburg but can also be deployed on the opposite wing or as a striker.

The Osaka native has been a prolific scorer for Japan since becoming a mainstay of the national team under manager Hajime Moriyasu.

Minamino joined Salzburg in 2015 from J-League side Cerezo Osaka. He has impressed in domestic and European competitions, including strong performances in a pair of Champions League matches against Liverpool this year.

"From those games (against Liverpool) I learned this team has such a high level of technique and intensity," said Minamino.

"Their football is of such a high level and I did feel that they were the champions of the Champions League. 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."

(Takumi Minamino is greeted by new teammate Fabinho)[Liverpool FC/Getty/Kyodo]

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Minamino was a "wonderful signing" for the European champions.

"This is fabulous news – a wonderful signing. We are really, really happy about this," Klopp told the club's website.

"Our supporters have had the chance to see him close up recently so I don’t need to sing too loudly about his qualities as they are already known."

"Takumi is a very quick, very clever player, he finds space between the lines. He is brave with the ball but also brave without the ball – a proper team player. He makes the best of himself for the benefit of others."

The German added, "His Champions League experience is a big bonus and coming from the club and organisation he does, we know he’ll be well coached, used to an elite environment and had all the right experiences."

Liverpool currently sit 10 points clear atop the Premier League as they pursue their first domestic league title since 1990.

Fans of the club will hope the addition of Minamino proves as successful as the last time Klopp coached a Japanese star. The German won a pair of Bundesliga titles managing a Borussia Dortmund side featuring Shinji Kagawa.

(Shinji Kagawa (L) is hugged by Jurgen Klopp after the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool at Signal Iduna Park on April 7, 2016)[Getty/Kyodo]

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