Liverpool will sign defender Joel Matip when his contract with current club Schalke expires in the summer, the German club have confirmed.Matip, 24, has long been linked with a move to Anfield – with Reds manager Jurgen Klopp known to be an admirer of the Cameroon international.And Schalke have now confirmed that the centre-back will depart the club when his contract expires in the summer, with Liverpool snapping up the player on a free transfer.”His decision is nothing against Schalke,” club general manager Horst Heldt told reporters. “He wants to try something new.”The Bochum-born defender can play across the backline and even in midfield if required, and will add athleticism and discipline to a backline that has struggled for much of the current campaign.Last week Schalke secured a contract extension for Matip’s centre-back partner Benedikt Howedes, amid reported interest from a number of European clubs. –Follow Joy Sports on Twitter: @JoySportsGH. Our hashtag is #JoySports