LONDON: Liverpool signed teenager Divock Origi on Tuesday before immediately loaning the Belgium World Cup striker back to Ligue 1 side Lille for next season, said the five-times European champions.

“I am very happy and delighted a club as big as Liverpool showed interest in me,” the 19-year-old told the Premier League club’s official website (www.liverpoolfc.com).

“I know it’s a club with a great history, great fans and a lot of great players. For me Liverpool are one of the greatest clubs in the world.” Origi began his career as a youth team player at Racing Genk before joining Lille in 2010.

He celebrated his debut for the French club with a goal against Troyes in February 2013 and has scored six times in total for the Ligue 1 club.

Origi was also on target for Belgium in their World Cup group stage match against Russia in Brazil last month.

Lille finished third in Ligue 1 last season, 18 points adrift of champions Paris St. Germain.

Sneijder staying with Galatasaray

Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder is staying with Istanbul giants Galatasaray this season despite speculation that he would leave following his sparkling showing in the World Cup, the club president said Tuesday.

Galatasaray will be seeking to make a major impact in the Champions League this season after signing former Italy football manager Cesare Prandelli as their new coach.

“Sneijder is going to stay with Galatasaray,” said Galatasaray President Unal Aysal, quoted by Turkish media.

Aysal had previously said that the club was willing to sell Sneijder if another club was willing to cough up for a 20-million-euro ($26.8m) release clause.

Sneijder, who joined Galatasaray in 2013 from Inter Milan, had been linked with a move to Ligue 1 side Monaco or English giants Manchester United or Chelsea.

Shaw made to train alone

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has ordered full back Luke Shaw to train alone, saying the 19-year-old is “not very fit” and unable to meet the Dutchman’s expectations.

Shaw joined United from fellow Premier League side Southampton after returning from England’s dismal World Cup campaign in a deal reported to be worth up to 30 million pounds ($50.93 million), the highest fee for a teenage player.

On Monday, he trained away from his teammates during an open session at the Washington Redskins’ FedEx Field on the club’s North American pre-season tour.

Meanwhile, Wilfried Zaha, who has struggled since joining from Crystal Palace last year, is set to make his first appearance on the tour against Inter Milan on Tuesday.

Van Gaal said he was looking at utilising the winger as a striker as he continues to develop a 3-5-2 formation at the club.

“He will play in the second-half in the strikers’ position.

Vidal stays at Juventus

Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal is not heading for Manchester United but is fundamental to champions Juventus and is happy to stay, the Italian club’s manager Massimiliano Allegri said on Tuesday.

“The ideal thing would be not only to keep hold of Vidal but to bring others in,” Allegri told reporters.

“We have never activated a clause to try to sell him and if he doesn’t show an intention to leave, our position won’t change.

“He is a player that I consider fundamental and he wants to stay here,” added Allegri, who took over from Antonio Conte earlier this month.

Vidal has been frequently linked to United during the close season, with media reports saying the Premier League clubs are preparing a £48 million ($81.30 million) bid for the 27-year-old.

Valencia joins West Ham

Ecuador striker Enner Valencia’s move to West Ham United has been confirmed after the 25-year-old was granted a work permit, the Premier League side said on Tuesday.

Valencia, who scored all three of Ecuador’s goals at the World Cup finals in Brazil, signed a five-year contract to join the east London club from Mexico’s Pachuca earlier this month, subject to a successful work permit hearing.

“I’ve already watched and read a lot about the club to learn about it — I know the fans are really passionate and I’m really glad to have signed,” Valencia told the club website (www.whufc.com).

De Vrij heads to Lazio

Netherlands World Cup defender Stefan de Vrij is poised to join Lazio from Feyenoord for a fee of around 8.5 million euros ($11.42 million), Dutch media reported on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old was an ever-present for a Dutch side that finished third at the World Cup and raised his international profile with solid defensive performances and a goal against Spain in their opening match at the Brazil tournament.

He was due to undergo a medical on Tuesday, Lazio said on their twitter account (@officialsslazio), and was being offered a five-year contract.

Since making his Feyenoord debut in late 2009, De Vrij has played 135 times and scored seven goals. He has also earned 19 caps for the Netherlands.

Tevez’s father kidnapped

The father of Argentine football star Carlos Tevez was kidnapped Tuesday in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, local media reports said.

Local media reported that Juventus forward was flying home from Italy in response to the situation.

Police sources cited in the reports said the kidnappers have demanded money from the family for the release of Segundo Tevez.

“The family is concerned. We have to wait now to see how events unfold,” Gustavo Galasso, a lawyer for the family, told reporters outside their home in Villa Devoto.

The victim was reported to have been intercepted Tuesday morning while driving his car in an area in the outskirts of Buenos Aires.

The car was found abandoned several hours later, according to the media reports.