ABERDEEN have moved to sign Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward on a season-long loan just days after he signed a new, five-year contract at Anfield.
The 22-year-old, who was called into the Wales squad for their recent Euro 2016 victory over Belgium, agreed his deal with the Barclays Premier League side on Tuesday and has now put pen-to-paper with Derek McInnes' side as he bids to get more first-team experience.
Ward had a spell with Morecambe last season before returning to Merseyside to serve as the understudy to Simon Mignolet.
With Liverpool having signed Hungarian keeper Adam Bogdan from Bolton this summer, Brendan Rodgers now has sufficient cover to allow Ward to leave on a temporary basis.
Ward is certainly arriving at Pittodrie with the firm intention of playing football with a view to showing Rodgers that he can be Liverpool's number one in future.
"Competition is what brings us goalkeepers on," he said after signing his Anfield deal.
"Next season, we'll see and have a chat with the club, but, hopefully, I can go and get some games. That will be key for my development at the minute.
"In the long-term, who knows? I'll carry on working hard and the ultimate goal is to play in the (Liverpool) first team."
McInnes has revealed that Ward has been on his radar for a while.
"I am delighted to get Danny on board," said McInnes. "He is a young goalkeeper we have been aware of for some time. We are thankful to Liverpool and Brendan (Rodgers), in particular, for allowing this to happen.
"He is someone who is highly regarded at his club and they see the importance of getting him out on loan. Danny now has the task and challenge of playing football at a good level with us.
"We have real competition for places in all areas of the team, and we certainly now have that in the goalkeeping position.
"We believe Danny is going to have a good career as he goes forward and we are looking forward to the opportunity of working with him as part of his development.
"He can also help us to be successful."
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