Liverpool complete shock move for Preston defender Davies

In one of the most unexpected developments of the January transfer window, Liverpool officially unveiled little-known 25-year-old center-back Ben Davies on Monday.

The Reds agreed to pay a modest £1.6 million to sign the multipurpose defender from Championship side Preston North End, according to The Athletic's James Pearce.

It's one of two deals Liverpool finalized on transfer deadline day. Along with Davies, Schalke defender Ozan Kabak joined the reigning champions on loan with a reported £18-million option to buy.

The moves give manager Jurgen Klopp the cover he needs to see out the team's injury-riddled season.

"I've never actually been to Anfield and I haven't had a look around yet," Davies, who will wear the No. 28, said in a statement. "I had a quick look out and had a look at the pitch and it looks like carpet, which obviously you'd expect.

"I haven't actually walked out of the tunnel yet, so I'm looking forward to that. Just to be in this kind of atmosphere is brilliant."

Davies, who's never played in the English top flight, spent the majority of his career at Preston, becoming an undisputed starter after loan spells at Fleetwood Town, Newport County, Southport, Tranmere Rovers, and York City.

His contract was set to expire at the end of the season.

"I think it's probably clear that in a normal transfer window, without any issues, we would not look at Preston if there's a player for us or something like that," Klopp admitted. "It's not really likely. But since we saw him and since our situation got clearer and clearer - the problems we had - when we saw him, we got really excited about it and thought, 'Wow.' He's a boy who played his whole life for Preston, is around the corner pretty much. We see the potential really."

Liverpool reacted after losing Joel Matip for the remainder of the season. Matip suffered ankle ligament damage in last week's win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez were previously ruled out with potential season-ending knee injuries, forcing Klopp to use midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in defense.

Davies, who won Preston's Player of the Year award in 2019, can play as a center-back and left-back.