Liverpool complete signing of Spanish midfielder Natalia Ramos

Liverpool Women have completed the signing of Spanish central midfielder Natalia Ramos from Liga F side CD Tenerife Femenino, subject to visa approval and international clearance.

The 27-year-old arrives on a permanent deal and becomes Liverpool’s sixth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of goalkeeper Khiara Keating, forwards Vivien Endemann and Mao Itamura, defender Sara Agrež and wing-back Mari Ward.

Ramos spent the majority of her career at her hometown club, making more than 200 appearances across two spells at Tenerife either side of a single season at Levante. Last term was arguably her best yet, with 10 goals and five assists in 30 Liga F appearances, figures that put her among the division’s top goalscorers alongside Barcelona’s Clàudia Pina and Ewa Pajor. She also averaged nearly two key passes and almost three tackles won per 90 minutes, underlining her reputation as an all-round midfield presence rather than a purely attacking option.

Ramos will wear the No.6 shirt at Anfield, the number vacated by Denise O’Sullivan following her move to NWSL side Gotham FC earlier this year.

She told Liverpool’s official website: “I’m really, really happy. I’m very excited to achieve this new step in my life and I’m very grateful for this new opportunity in my life. For me it was a very easy decision and I’m very, very happy, with a lot of feelings and emotions because I know who the club is, the respect it has. I feel very happy and privileged to take this shirt and sign at the club.”

Capped by Spain at Under-17 and Under-19 level, Ramos was part of the squad that won the 2017 Women’s Under-19 European Championship in Northern Ireland, though she has yet to earn a senior international call-up.

Liverpool finished second-bottom of the Women’s Super League last season and will be hoping Ramos’s experience helps steady a young squad ahead of the new campaign, which begins away to Charlton Athletic on 6 September.