Liverpool Football Club can announce it has agreed a deal in principle with Kolo Toure to join the club on July 1.
The powerful defender will be registered as a Reds player when his current deal with Manchester City expires.
Toure, 32, will arrive at Anfield boasting a wealth of experience, having represented both City and Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League since switching to English football in 2002, and adding depth to Brendan Rodgers‘ defensive ranks ahead of 2013-14.
The Ivory Coast international, signed by Arsene Wenger from homeland club ASEC Mimosas, made his Gunners debut in the 2002 Community Shield against Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium.
Originally deployed in midfield or at full-back, Toure was moved to center-back for the 2003-04 season and helped Arsenal go the entire league season unbeaten as they swept to the title, adding to the FA Cup they’d lifted the previous season.
He added a second FA Cup medal in 2005, while a year later he was part of the Arsenal side that reached the UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona, having scored the only goal of the two-legged semifinal with Villarreal.
After more than 200 appearances for the Londoners, Toure was firmly established as one of the finest center-backs in the league — and Manchester City duly swooped to sign him in the summer of 2009 and immediately appointed him club captain.
During his four years at Eastlands, he lifted another Premier League title and FA Cup in over 100 appearances for City.
On the international stage, Toure has represented the Ivory Coast at two African Cup of Nations tournaments and two FIFA World Cup finals. He has more than a century of caps for his country, for whom he has also worn the skipper’s armband.
He’ll become the first Ivorian to play for Liverpool when he joins the club.
Photo via Facebook/Kolo Toure
