English Premiership club Liverpool FC have signed Bulgaria Under-21 international goalkeeper Nikolay Mikhailov from Levski Sofia on a three-year contract, the club confirmed on Wednesday.

He has an option to extend his contract for a further two years, said Levski Sofia in a statement.

Mikhailov, who almost signed with Italian Serie A side ACF Fiorentina earlier in June, celebrates his 19th birthday on Thursday, and passed a medical with Liverpool before sealing the deal on Wednesday.

He will replace former Reds goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek who is due to be released from Anfield on July the 1st and is likely to join Spanish Primera Liga champions Real Madrid on a free transfer within the next 2 weeks.

Mikhailov, who is the son of Bulgarian Football Union president Borislav Mikhailov, is overjoyed by the prospect, saying to sports website (sportal.bg): "I have no words. This is the greatest moment of my life."

The Reds had brought Danielle Padelli on loan from Sampdoria in January. However at the end of the season, he was released.

Mikhailov will be third-choice keeper, behind Spanish shot-stopper Pepe Reina who is the first choice for Rafa Benitez, while England Under-21 first-choice keeper Scott Carson has been challenged by the Reds boss to mount serious competition to displace the Spaniard from his first-team place.

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