Bournemouth confirm sixth summer signing with Brad Smith from Liverpool

Liverpool have confirmed the sale of Brad Smith to Bournemouth. The Australian international left-back has signed a four-year contract and joins former teammate Jordon Ibe at the Vitality Stadium after the latter completed his own £15m ($19.6m) move a fortnight ago.

The official fee for Smith remains undisclosed, although the Liverpool Echo believe the agreement could eventually be worth up to £6m. The 22-year-old had featured in two of Liverpool's four summer pre-season friendlies to date against Tranmere Rovers and Fleetwood Town and travelled as part of Jurgen Klopp's squad for International Champions Cup fixtures against Chelsea and AC Milan in the United States.

However, he flew back from California to Heathrow alongside Mamadou Sakho for a medical on Monday (25 July) and the deal has now been officially completed.

"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity here," Penrith-born Smith, who only settled his contract dispute in November, told Cherries Player after Bournemouth and Liverpool both confirmed the switch. "It all happened quite quickly. I knew there was a bit of interest and then they put the bid in, Liverpool accepted and we went from there really.

"I flew to America and was there for about five days. Once I found out that the bid had been accepted, I stopped training with the team to make sure everything went the right way. It's a great stadium here and it's a great opportunity for me to come and play in front of the fans. Hopefully I'll do well, learn a lot and progress in my career.

"Bournemouth did really well last season and I think the club can be a great team in the Premier League for many years to come. They're just getting started really. I think it'll be a good fit for me and I can't wait to get going here."

Smith, also capable of playing on the left wing, joined Liverpool's academy as a teenager and later became an U21 regular before making his first-team debut under Brendan Rodgers as a second-half replacement for Joe Allen during a 2-1 Premier League defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in December 2013. He made 10 appearances during a short loan stint with League One side Swindon Town at the start of the 2014/15 campaign before being recalled amid concerns over Alberto Moreno and Jose Enrique.

He featured a further 10 times in total under Jurgen Klopp back at Liverpool last season, scoring a late equaliser for a youthful side in a 2-2 FA Cup third-round draw at Exeter City. He was sent off for two bookable offences in May's disappointing defeat at Swansea City and earned his ninth cap for the Socceroos during their 2-1 friendly loss to England at the Stadium of Light. He is the sixth player signed by Cherries' boss Eddie Howe so far this summer, joining Ibe, Lewis Cook, Chelsea loanee Nathan Ake, Emerson Hyndman and Lys Mousset.