Premier League giants Liverpool have announced that new signing Naby Keita will wear the iconic no. 8 shirt at the club.

The Jersey was last worn by club legend and former club captain Steven Gerrard, who’s now Rangers manager in Scotland.

Keita will officially join the Reds on July 1 from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig after both sides reached an agreement for his transfer last summer.

According to Guinean international Keita, Liverpool’s former U-18s manager Steven Gerrard gave him the Jersey number when they met during his first visit to Melwood just after an agreement had been reached for his transfer.

In a chat with his new club’s website, Naby Keita said: “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 [to] do as much as he did. That’s my motivation.” The 23-year-old concluded.