Liverpool get González green light

Benítez 'delighted'
Liverpool had secured González's signature – for a fee believed to be around €5.8m - from Spanish side Albacete Balompié last January, and had agreed a four-year contract with the left-winger. However, the 21-year-old has only now been granted a work permit, after having to spend the second half of last season on loan at Real Sociedad de Fútbol. Liverpool boss Rafael Benítez said: "This is very good news and I am delighted to welcome Mark to Liverpool. He is an exciting left-winger and a very good signing for us." González has 14 Chile caps and started his career with CD Universidad Católica.

'He has a great future'
The Reds have also completed the €3m acquisition of Argentina Under-20 defender Gabriel Paletta from CA Banfield. Paletta, with 42 first-class appearances to his name, moves to Merseyside on a four-year contract. Benítez added: "Paletta is very tough and he's exactly the sort of player who will suit the English Premiership. He is a defender with a lot of aggression and we're sure he has a great future. We were watching him at the FIFA World Youth Championship last summer, and we had to move quickly to sign him. We're delighted to have done the deal."

Valencia connection
Also finalising his switch to Anfield today is left-back Fábio Aurélio who has put pen to paper on a four-year deal. The 26-year-old Brazilian is a free-transfer signing from Valencia CF, where the highlight of his six-season stay was winning the Spanish championship under Benítez in 2003/04. Formerly with São Paulo FC in Brazil, Fábio Aurélio played 95 league games for Valencia. "His technical ability is fantastic and he has a great left foot and provides the team with a lot of options," said Benítez. Liverpool have also secured the services of €10m Welsh international striker Craig Bellamy this summer.