Liverpool have signed Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri from Palmeiras on a four-year deal and will serve as understudy to Anfield number one Jose Reina.

The 25-year-old becomes the third Brazilian at the club alongside Lucas and Fabio Aurelio and is manager Rafael Benitez's third major signing of the summer following the arrivals of full backs Philipp Degen and Andrea Dossena.

Cavalieri, who also holds an Italian passport, fully accepted he would play second fiddle to Spain international Reina after joining the Reds.

"I know it won't be easy to get into the team," Cavalieri told www.liverpoolfc.tv.

"I watched some Liverpool games in both the Premier League and Champions League last year and I know Pepe (Reina) is a very good goalkeeper. But everyone has to fight for their place and I'm sure we will have a healthy rivalry.

"I know I will have to be patient and work very hard to achieve my aims, but it is always like that when you come from another country.

"You have to adapt inside and outside of the pitch and get used to the way things work. But with hard work you get there.

"My confidence has got me where I am today and maybe people are aware of what I did at Palmeiras in Brazil.

"I am sure that one day I can get the number one position but that will only come with hard work."

Despite the prospect of spending much of the coming season on the bench, Cavalieri, who is thought to have cost the club around €3.7million, hailed a "dream" move to Merseyside.

"The name Liverpool is known all around the world. It's an honour to wear this shirt," he added. "It was a dream for me to come to Europe, though I was taken aback by how quickly everything happened. It's all been sorted out in one week.

"But I have been given a very good welcome from my team-mates and the manager, so I'm very happy to be here. I just hope I can respond to all this.

"Rafa and I spoke for a long time on the day I arrived. He explained to me how the football is here and the differences from Brazil. He also talked to me about the responsibilities of representing a club like Liverpool