The scene is a rainy morning on the M6 northbound in September 2019 and Jeremie Frimpong is sitting in a car unsure what to do with himself.

Still a teenager then, Frimpong was heading north of the border to have talks with Celtic but he asked his agent to turn the car around.

He was having doubts over leaving Manchester City, his comfort zone since age nine.

Frimpong did not want to walk away from his brotherhood in the City academy and he felt guilty after team-mates had been pinging his phone incessantly asking why he was not in training that day.

But the agent, who also looks after Frimpong’s younger brother Wesley, insisted. ‘Jeremie, you don't understand this opportunity… this is life changing, this is Celtic,’ he told his client.

Six years on, the same can be said. Bayer Leverkusen, like Celtic, are a big club with a platform to compete for trophies. But a move to the Premier League champions? This is life-changing, this is Liverpool.

Jeremie Frimpong is joining Liverpool in a £29.6million deal from Bayer Leverkusen

Frimpong came through at Manchester City, where he faced the likes of Bukayo Saka (right) at Under 21 level

Frimpong and Phil Foden were contemporaries in the Manchester City academy

Frimpong will now join up with Liverpool, who he faced in the Champions League group stage in November last year

The Reds have completed the signing of the Dutch international, born in Amsterdam though he moved to England aged seven, for a fee of £29.5million after triggering his release clause at the German side. He joins on a five-year deal.

So, what are they getting for that money – and is it a bargain?

‘It f***ing is, mate,’ the man who gave him his first-team break in football at Celtic, Neil Lennon, tells Mail Sport. ‘Manchester City brought an Under 21 team up to our training ground at Lennoxtown once and Jerry played – he was really good.

‘He had a real sort of enthusiasm and capacity to keep going and keep going and keep going and keep going. He was really strong and quick. We did a bit of digging on him and got him for about £350,000.

‘He was a breath of fresh air in terms of his ability and personality. You couldn’t keep him out of the team. I thought, “Jesus Christ, this kid is special”. He had initial speed and then carried it on for 30-40 yards. Good control, good reading of the game and end product.

‘But he was a great kid as well. So grateful, so happy and humble. We just loved him. The fans did, too. He was unplayable.

'No ego at all. He was happy every day and he was a joy to coach. He had an infectious personality. No malice in him at all.’

After moving to Scotland, Frimpong had to adjust to men’s football and he took the league by storm.

When he was sold to Leverkusen, some say he struggled at first – the wingers he was up against in Germany were better, the full backs he tried to get past at the other end were quicker.

But he has a knack of rising to challenges and soon did so.

Those close to him talk of Frimpong being like a ‘kid in the body of an adult’ in terms of his non-stop smiley expression and bubbly personality – but also say he is a winner who works relentlessly hard on improving every day.

Neil Lennon, the man who gave Frimpong his debut at Celtic, says he is a bargain for Liverpool

After moving to Scotland, Frimpong had to adjust to men’s football and he took the league by storm

He has a knack of rising to challenges and soon did so at Celtic

Those close to him talk of Frimpong being like a ‘kid in the body of an adult’ in terms of his non-stop smiley expression and bubbly personality

He is a deeply religious man who spends at least 20 minutes a day reading the Bible. Instead of nights out, Frimpong holds meetings to discuss scripture. He FaceTimes his sister Nana – he is one of seven – about it, too.

Now 24 and described as a ‘chirpy’ character, he used to be the quietest kid in town. When playing for youth teams around Greater Manchester in Openshaw and Clayton, he would barely speak. His football did the talking, though.

‘I was raised well,’ he said in an interview recently. ‘If I want something, I should go and get it.’

And that is why he wanted a move to the Premier League and back to England this summer after a fine period at Bayer Leverkusen in which he won the Bundesliga — in an unbeaten season no less — and German Cup.

Across the last two seasons, he has scored 19 goals and assisted 24. They are astonishing numbers.

It is why New Balance signed him up to a huge, £20million boot deal. Mail Sport reported at the time how this was in anticipation of him moving to the Premier League this summer and becoming one of the manufacturer’s faces of European football.

It will not be easy for Frimpong but, so far in his life, he has risen to every challenge. As Lennon adds: ‘When I first saw him I thought he was going to the top, he’s got real ability, the exuberantness of youth.

‘I’m just so proud of him. Hugely proud. I only played a small chance in that. Virgil van Dijk the same, we got him from Groningen. That was a no brainer.

Now 24 and described as a ‘chirpy’ character, he used to be the quietest kid in town

He has blossomed under the tutelage of former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen

He signed a mammoth £20m New Balance boot deal to become one of their faces of European football

Frimpong is set to be joined at Anfield by his former Leverkusen team-mate Florian Wirtz (left)

‘Jerry was a good quality young player, we thought, “let’s see where it takes him” but it has happened so quickly.

'He has had a meteoric rise and he has already played in Europa League final, won the Bundesliga, now going to the Premier League champions?

‘He will handle it no problem. He will be really happy. He’s going to do a fantastic job. He has no edge to him. Nothing will faze him.

'He's enthusiastic but mentally strong… he’s a little assassin.’