Liverpool have completed the club-record signing of Andy Carroll from Newcastle on a five-and-a-half-year contract.

The 22-year-old has moved for a fee believed to be in the region of £35m after passing a medical at the club's Melwood training ground this evening.

Carroll will wear the number nine shirt vacated by Fernando Torres, who is on the verge of completing another record-breaking £50m transfer to Chelsea.

Confirmation of his signing means the Reds' transfer record has been broken twice in the space of a few hours after a £22.8m deal for Ajax forward Luis Suarez was finalised earlier in the evening.

Andy Carroll has tonight completed his transfer from Newcastle to Liverpool and signed a deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2016.
Statement made by Liverpool FC

"Andy Carroll has tonight completed his transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool FC and signed a 5 and a half-year-deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2016," a statement on Liverpool's website confirmed.

"The Club agreed a record transfer fee with Newcastle earlier in the day for the transfer of the England international striker."

Liverpool made their shock move for Carroll earlier today after accepting Chelsea's offer for Torres, having rejected a £35m bid late last week.

Their first approach, for £30m, was knocked back by the Magpies and although they stalled on the improved offer Carroll put in a transfer request and the club decided to accept.

He then raced over to Merseyside to complete his medical, agree personal terms and sign the paperwork - which was all completed just minutes before the 11pm deadline.