Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has praised the club for managing to capture Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure on a free transfer from Manchester City. He is the first signing for the club in the summer.

Due to the fact that he was available on a free transfer, the club went against their policy of signing older players. After the arrival of Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool have brought in several players below the age of 24. Touré, though, arrives with a wealth of experience after having played in the Premier league for several years with Arsenal and Manchester City.

He was a £ 16 million signing from Arsenal several years ago, but he found himself increasingly frozen in the distance under former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini. He has been linked with several big clubs like PSG in the recent past, but Liverpool have managed to complete the signing of the 32-year-old. Fowler has said that he has played against the 31-year-old on numerous occasions and has praised his quality. He has said that the Ivory Coast defender will certainly add some much-needed quality to the Liverpool defence especially in the absence of Jamie Carragher, who retired from football at the end of last season.

Former striker Fowler has also praised the work done by the club in the transfer window since the arrival of Rodgers.

"I've played against him numerous times and he is a fantastic player. I'm sure coming to a new club will spur him on that little bit more and he will want to do well. He will want to play. I think he will try hard in training and a little bit of pride will set in. You look at his performances over the years for Arsenal and Manchester City - he has been magnificent in the Premier League," said Fowler.