Glen Johnson has agreed a four-year contract with Liverpool after completing his £18.5 million transfer from Portsmouth.
The 25-year-old England international becomes manager Rafa Benítez's first signing of the summer.
"We were thinking about bringing in players with quality - that's the first thing," Benítez told Liverpool's official website.
"He was important at Chelsea and in the last year at Portsmouth he has improved and is much better.
"One of the main things is his mentality - it's really good. He is a winner. I was impressed with the conversations I had with him. He wants to improve.
"We knew the market was going to be difficult this summer and some of it has been crazy. Manchester City and Chelsea were there - they were making offers.
"We had to be quick and the club acted quickly. It was down to the player whether he chose us or City or Chelsea and he chose us. It was very clear from talking to him that he wanted to play for Liverpool."
Johnson's arrival casts Álvaro Arbeloa's future into doubt, with Real Madrid ready to make a move
Benítez said: "Arbeloa was a good player for us last year. The thing is, he has one year left on his contract. We have offered him an extension and we're talking.
"He is our player but if there is a good offer we have to consider it. We have two or three clubs asking about him. He would like to stay but he knows the competition will be hard."
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The 25-year-old England international becomes manager Rafa Benítez's first signing of the summer.
"We were thinking about bringing in players with quality - that's the first thing," Benítez told Liverpool's official website.
"He was important at Chelsea and in the last year at Portsmouth he has improved and is much better.
"One of the main things is his mentality - it's really good. He is a winner. I was impressed with the conversations I had with him. He wants to improve.
"We knew the market was going to be difficult this summer and some of it has been crazy. Manchester City and Chelsea were there - they were making offers.
"We had to be quick and the club acted quickly. It was down to the player whether he chose us or City or Chelsea and he chose us. It was very clear from talking to him that he wanted to play for Liverpool."
Johnson's arrival casts Álvaro Arbeloa's future into doubt, with Real Madrid ready to make a move
Benítez said: "Arbeloa was a good player for us last year. The thing is, he has one year left on his contract. We have offered him an extension and we're talking.
"He is our player but if there is a good offer we have to consider it. We have two or three clubs asking about him. He would like to stay but he knows the competition will be hard."
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Team
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Also see:
