Naby Keita has recalled the moment he was given his No 8 shirt from former incumbent and club icon Steven Gerrard and vowed: 'I'll try to do as much as he did – that's my motivation.'
Keita will be officially unveiled as a Liverpool player next week following his pre-agreement with RB Leipzig last summer.
The 23-year-old will become the first player to wear the iconic shirt since May 2015, when Gerrard left the club for MLS side LA Galaxy.
Keita has revealed how he was surprised by the club's former under-18s manager during his first visit to their Melwood training base once his move had been confirmed.
'It was an incredible day for me. He gave me the No 8 jersey. When it happened, it was a surprise and I didn't expect it.
'When he came in, I looked and him and said, 'wow' because he is a legend. He is somebody who always showed respect, who gave his all on the pitch, somebody who is loved here.
'If somebody like that gives you his shirt number, it's not to play around with, it is to try and do as much as he did – that's my motivation.'
WHO HAS WORN THE NO 8 SHIRT DOWN THE YEARS?
Keita will become the 43rd person to wear the No 8 shirt in Liverpool's history.
Gerrard took ownership of the number in 2004/05, the same year he lifted the Champions League trophy in Istanbul. Previously he had worn No 17 since bursting onto the scene in 1998.
Before Gerrard, the No 8 jersey belonged to former England striker Emile Heskey from 1999 to 2004.
It has also been worn by the likes of Jamie Redknapp, Steve McManaman, Jan Molby, John Aldridge, Ian Rush, Graeme Souness and Alan Kennedy.
WHO IS NABY KEITA?
- Keita was born in 1995 in Conakry, the capital city of Guinea.
- He played for his hometown club Horoya from the age of nine before leaving for FC Istres in France in 2012.
- Keita scored 11 goals in 23 games in his first season as a professional footballer in Ligue 2, earning a move to Red Bull Salzburg.
- He spent two years there, striking a friendship with Sadio Mane in the process, before joining sister-club RB Leipzig in June 2016.
- It was there he began to shine and became one of the most sought after midfielders in Europe.
- A dynamic, box-to-box central midfielder, Keita scored 17 goals in 71 appearances in Germany.
- In August 2017, it was announced a deal had been struck for Keita to join Liverpool in July 2018.
-Dailymail
Keita will become the 43rd person to wear the No 8 shirt in Liverpool's history.
Gerrard took ownership of the number in 2004/05, the same year he lifted the Champions League trophy in Istanbul. Previously he had worn No 17 since bursting onto the scene in 1998.
Before Gerrard, the No 8 jersey belonged to former England striker Emile Heskey from 1999 to 2004.
It has also been worn by the likes of Jamie Redknapp, Steve McManaman, Jan Molby, John Aldridge, Ian Rush, Graeme Souness and Alan Kennedy.
WHO IS NABY KEITA?
- Keita was born in 1995 in Conakry, the capital city of Guinea.
- He played for his hometown club Horoya from the age of nine before leaving for FC Istres in France in 2012.
- Keita scored 11 goals in 23 games in his first season as a professional footballer in Ligue 2, earning a move to Red Bull Salzburg.
- He spent two years there, striking a friendship with Sadio Mane in the process, before joining sister-club RB Leipzig in June 2016.
- It was there he began to shine and became one of the most sought after midfielders in Europe.
- A dynamic, box-to-box central midfielder, Keita scored 17 goals in 71 appearances in Germany.
- In August 2017, it was announced a deal had been struck for Keita to join Liverpool in July 2018.
-Dailymail
- Keita was born in 1995 in Conakry, the capital city of Guinea.
- He played for his hometown club Horoya from the age of nine before leaving for FC Istres in France in 2012.
- Keita scored 11 goals in 23 games in his first season as a professional footballer in Ligue 2, earning a move to Red Bull Salzburg.
- He spent two years there, striking a friendship with Sadio Mane in the process, before joining sister-club RB Leipzig in June 2016.
- It was there he began to shine and became one of the most sought after midfielders in Europe.
- A dynamic, box-to-box central midfielder, Keita scored 17 goals in 71 appearances in Germany.
- In August 2017, it was announced a deal had been struck for Keita to join Liverpool in July 2018.
-Dailymail