Liverpool have announced that Swiss defender Philipp Degen will join them on a free transfer from German giants Borussia Dortmund in July. Degen, who started his career with Basel, moved to Dortmund in 2005. His twin brother David, was on loan at Basel last season, and is currently contracted to Borussia Monchengladbach.

Degen is described as an attacking full back, and will have to compete with Alvaro Arbeloa and Steve Finnan for a spot in the starting eleven of Rafa Benitez. He loves to get forward, and possesses plenty of energy and pace. He will play at Euro 2008 for Switzerland, and fans who have not seen him in action will get a much better idea of his style of play.

Meanwhile, Benitez is also rumoured to have nearly completed the signing of leftback Andrea Dossena from Italian club Modena. Dossena is expected to cost the club around eight million pounds.

Some say Degen is an average player, while others think he could potentially turn into a world class player. Whatever it is, the new season will tell us!.