Arthur Melo joins Liverpool on loan: who is Juventus star, FIFA 22 rating, key stats, age, transfermarkt value

Liverpool confirmed the transfer deadline day signing of Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus last night.

The Reds had been plunged into injury crisis only weeks until the season, with Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Thiago Alcantara and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all sidelined.

The club had been heavily linked with a number of midfielders including Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz, but it was Arthur who was eventually brought in to bolster their ranks.

The Brazilian joins Liverpool in an initial loan for £4 million, with the deal including an option-to-buy for £32.5m at the end of the season.

Following his arrival at Anfield, Arthur said: “I’m really, really happy to be here wearing this great shirt with this famous badge that represents so much in world football. It’s a dream.

“We talked a lot and our ideas and visions were a good fit so I think, no, I’m sure, that it was the right choice. I’m really happy and highly motivated to continue living my dream on the pitch and giving my all in a Liverpool shirt.”

Here is everything we know about Arthur Melo and his move to the Premier League...

Who is Arthur Melo?

Arthur began his professional career in Brazil with Gremio and was one of the most exciting prospects around before he joined Barcelona in 2018.

The midfielder joined for Spanish giants for an initial €31 million plus €9 million in add-ons, agreeing a six-year contract with the club.

Arthur scored three goals in 69 appearances for Barca before he was sold to Juventus for a whopping €72m.

Despite the hefty price tag, Arthur didn’t meet expectations in Turin and failed to retain a regular spot in the starting lineup - making 44 league appearances across two seasons.

The 26-year-old clearly showed he isn’t much of a goalscoring midfielder either - picking up only one goal since his arrival at Juve.

Arthur’s difficulty in club football didn’t deter his national team from selecting him however and he has gone onto earn 22 caps in the last four years.

Despite his struggles so far, Arthur has an impressive list of accolades to his name including the La Liga title, the Coppa Italia and the Copa America.

Injury record

Considering Liverpool have brought in Arthur due to their long list of absentees, it is quite ironic that they have signed an injury-prone player.

Arthur has been sidelined on seven different occasions in the two years that he has been at Juventus - missing a total of around 150 days.

Previous to his move to Serie A, he out of action for over 200 days for various injuries with Barcelona and Gremio.

He was most recently sidelined with an ankle injury last month, though Arthur hasn’t made a single appearance for Juventus this season.

How much will Arthur Melo earn?

Arthur Melo reportedly earned around £125,000-a-week at Juventus, though it is unclear how much of that Liverpool will cover during his spell on Merseyside.

However, Calciomercato have previously claimed that the Italian club wouldn’t accept less than 50 per cent salary from any club looking to snap him up - leading to many suitors walking away from a potential move.

The likes of Arsenal and Valencia had been linked with Arthur this summer but had refused to pay his hefty wages.

Transfermarkt value

According to Transfermarkt, Arthur Melo’s current market value is £16.2m - around half of what Liverpool could potentially pay for his permanent signature next summer.

Arthur’s value has dramatically decreased following his arrival at Juventus, with it being £63m at its peak back in 2019.

FIFA 22 rating

Arthur Melo’s current rating on FIFA 22 is 81 and has a potential of 83.

That puts him at a higher rating than both Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain.

His Ultimate Team card is 83 rated wiht 69 pace, 67 shooting, 84 passing, 88 dribbling, 72 defending and 70 physical.