Bayer Leverkusen complete deal for Argentina striker Lucas Alario
Bayer Leverkusen have finalised the signing of highly-rated Argentina international forward Lucas Alario from River Plate as they seek to bolster their front line following the departure of Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez.
Alario has penned a five-year contract until 2022 and has been given the squad number 13 after world football's governing body FIFA finally confirmed on Thursday that the deal was allowed to take place.
The 24-year-old international had invoked his buyout clause at River Plate last month, meaning he was no longer under contract with River and free to fly to Germany to sign on the dotted line.
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"We've been watching Alario for some time," said Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Völler. "He has developed very well over the past two years and is one of the best strikers in South America.
Three-time Argentina international Alario scored 31 goals and teed up a further ten strikes in 71 competitive outings for River, whom he joined in 2015.
He contributed to the Buenos Aires giants lifting the Copa Libertadores in his first season with the club, and scored his first international goal in Argentina's 6-0 win in Singapore in June.
He could make his Bundesliga debut at the weekend when Bayer host Hamburg on Sunday at the BayArena (kick-off 18:00CEST/16:00GMT).