The Serbia forward Milan Jovanovic has finally completed his long-awaited move to Liverpool after signing a three-year contract.

The 29-year-old was a free agent after his deal with Belgian club Standard Liège expired at the end of the season. The move was lined by up the former manager Rafael Benítez before his departure at the start of June.

Despite numerous suggestions that Benítez, now manager of Internazionale, might try to hijack the deal, Liverpool and the player were always confident he would move to Merseyside and that has now been confirmed.

Jovanovic, who scored Serbia's winner in their surprise World Cup victory over Germany, met some of his new team-mates at Melwood today.

Jovanovic can play up front or on the wing. He could provide much-needed support for Fernando Torres or fill a gap left by Yossi Benayoun's transfer to Chelsea.

"It is an honour for me to sign for one of the biggest clubs in football," said the 2008 Belgian footballer of the year.

"I cannot wait to start working with the manager and I'm looking forward to joining up with my new team-mates on our Swiss training camp."