Udinese fullback Andrea Dossena has become the first Italian international to sign for Liverpool.

The players agent has confirmed that Dossena has passed his medical at Anfield earlier this week and expects the move to be finalised next week.

Liverpool have paid £7 million to capture the exiciting fullback and he had a clutch of suitors chasing his signature. Dossena earnt rave reviews for his perfomances on the left flank throughout last season and becomes manager Rafa Benetiz’s second signing following the free transfer of the Swiss right back, Philipp Degen from Borussia Dortmund.

The move for Dossena seems to spell the end of John Arne Riise’s Liverpool career after 348 appearances.