American goal keeper Brad Friedel has finally signed for Liverpool after winning his battle for the right to play soccer in Britain.

Friedel will arrive at Anfield next week aiming to take the Liverpool goalkeeping jersey from David James whose errors were partly blamed for club losing the premiership last season.

His passage to Liverpool was booked after the club finally won its appeal against an earlier Department of Employment decision to refuse the 26-year-old a work permit.

The ruling ends a three-month saga with Liverpool wanting to buy Friedel from American club Columbus Crew for £1m.

Friedel, who has helped take America to qualify for the France '98 World Cup Finals said: "Next year could be the best of my life, joining Liverpool and then playing in the World Cup finals."

Liverpool Manager Roy Evans said: "It has been a long time coming but it has been worth the wait. Brad will be over from the States for training next week and then we will see what the situation is. He has been brought in to improve us in that department."

Friedel must now play in three-quarters of Liverpool's matches this season to have his permit reissued so it is clear that Liverpool see him as a serious candidate to take over from James.

Rick Parry, Liverpool's Chief Executive Designate, who has masterminded efforts to bring Friedel to Anfield, said: "We are delighted to have won our appeal to bring Brad to England. It has taken a lot of hard work and effort but it is all worthwhile."

Friedel's original application was rejected because the DOE didn't feel that the player had appeared in the required 75% of the USA's competitive internationals in the past year. But the percentage was so close, believed to be 72%, that further information about the games supplied by Liverpool has persuaded the Government to change their mind.

Friedel said: "When I heard the application had at first been turned down I must admit I was in tears but the first person on the phone was Roy Evans saying they would battle on. When Liverpool come in for you and say they want you then you know it's worth waiting. It was a dream come true."

Friedel has previously played for Brondby and Galatasaray but has seen work permit applications to move to Newcastle, Sunderland and Southampton rejected.
 

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