RB Leipzig CEO: Keita didn't request to join Liverpool early

RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita won't complete his move to Liverpool until the summer, club CEO Oliver Mintzlaff said.

Having agreed to sign Keita last year for a reported £55 million, the Reds won't have to opportunity to expedite his date of arrival.

"Neither Naby nor his agent have made the request to leave the club in the winter," Mintzlaff told Bild, as reported by the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce. "There are contracts, and they say that he will be a Liverpool employee from July 1 onward."

Leipzig has always maintained that Keita would remain at the club for the entire 2017-18 campaign. With the Saxony outfit currently fifth in the Bundesliga standings, Keita is considered a key component of the side's bid for Champions League qualification.

Leipzig exited Europe's premier competition in December, finishing third in Group G to fall into the second-tier Europa League.

Keita's season didn't start in the best possible way. Between September and October, the Guinean international was sent off three times in seven matches for club and country. He was also accused of using a forged driver's licence, an offence that carried a six-figure fine.