Liverpool confirm Rickie Lambert signing

Liverpool have confirmed the signing of England striker Rickie Lambert from Southampton for a fee of around £4.5m.

Lambert, 32, was on the books at Liverpool as a teenager before embarking on a peripatetic career that included spells at Blackpool, Macclesfield, Stockport, Rochdale and Bristol Rovers.

He joined Southampton, who had just been relegated to League One, in 2009 in a £1m deal from Rovers and went on to score 117 goals in 235 appearances.

Lambert, who is likely to be used as a back-up for main strike pair Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, is delighted to be back at the club that released him as a 15-year-old.

“I can’t believe it. I’ve loved this club all my life. I left here 17 years ago – and I haven’t stopped loving it since,” he told Liverpool’s official website.

“I have always dreamt of playing for Liverpool, but I did kind of think the chance of playing for them had gone. I didn’t think the chance would come.

“I know how big Liverpool are – and it means everything to me – but I know what is important; I know it’s what I do on the pitch and the minutes I play. I know that’s what matters, and that’s what I’ll be focused on.”

Lambert has won four caps for his country and was an unused substitute during England’s 3-0 win over Peru on Friday night.