Liverpool, 6 August (AKI) - One of Italy's top football stars, Alberto Aquilani, is to transfer from AS Roma to Liverpool for a reported 29.5 million euros, the club said on its website on Thursday. The transfer is subject to a medical clearance for the 25-year-old midfielder later this week.

"I think the signing should excite the fans. He won the U19 European Championship with his country, and U21 too. He has some trophies - including the Italian cup," said Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez in an interview with Liverpoolfc.tv.

"Alberto has a winning mentality and great experience in both Serie A and the Champions League," he said.

The move to buy Aquilani comes just hours after the Reds sold Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid for 35.4 million euros.

Aquilani has played for Italy on 11 occasions. He has been with AS Roma, the club he supported as a child, since he was 16 years old and made his debut as an 18-year-old under Fabio Capello, now coach of England's national team.

The midfielder has not played since March due to an injury to his right ankle, for which he had surgery in May.

He made just 14 appearances for AS Roma last season.

Aquilani was forced to deny in an interview with Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport in March last year rumours that he owned a marble bust of late Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.