Juventus sign Liverpool midfielder Sissoko

Juventus has today confirmed the signing of Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.

The Mali international has signed a five-year contract with the Bianconeri.

Sissoko struggled to hold down a regular first-team place at Liverpool this season after falling out of favour under coach Rafael Benitez.

Sissoko, 23, is on international duty at the African Nations Cup but has already passed his medical having visited Turin prior to leaving for Ghana.

The fee has not been disclosed by either club but reports in Italy suggest it is in the region of $8m.

Sissoko, who joined the Merseysiders from Valencia in July 2005, made nine league appearances for Liverpool this season, scoring once.

He is excited at the prospect of playing for Juve.

He told the club's official website, www.juventus.com: "I am happy to have signed for such a big club, this experience is certainly a step forward in my career.

"I am excited at the thought of playing with great champions like (Gianluigi) Buffon and (Alessandro) Del Piero and working again with Claudio Ranieri, a great coach with whom I already worked with at Valencia."