Liverpool agrees to sign Schalke defender Matip

Joel Matip, who played for Cameroon in the last two World Cup finals, has been playing professionally at Schalke since 2009. (Martin Meissner/AP)

LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool has reached an agreement with Schalke to sign Cameroon defender Joel Matip at the end of the season, in the English club’s latest effort to shore up its problems at centre back.

Both clubs announced the deal for the 24-year-old Matip on Monday.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp knows about Matip from the coach’s time in the Bundesliga in charge of Borussia Dortmund.

Matip, who played for Cameroon in the last two World Cup finals, has been playing professionally at Schalke since 2009.

Matip will compete with Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho, and Kolo Toure for a place in central defence. Steven Caulker, another centre back, joined on loan in January.

Klopp’s only other signing since joining Liverpool in October has been midfielder Marko Grujic from Red Star Belgrade.

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