Gary Lineker has been unveiled as the face of BT Sport's coverage of the Champions League from next season.

Match of the Day host Lineker will anchor its coverage alongside current presenter Jake Humphrey as BT Sport broadcasts matches from European football's premier club competition for the first time.

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand, who announced his retirement last month, also joins the BT Sport team to help front their Champions League coverage.

Former Liverpool and England skipper Steven Gerrard, ex-QPR manager Harry Redknapp, former England boss Glenn Hoddle and retired referee Howard Webb join BT Sport's punditry team, which already boasts the likes of Paul Scholes, Michael Owen, Steve McManaman and Owen Hargreaves.

BT Sport will broadcast all 351 matches from the Champions League and Europa League next season as part of an £897million deal lasting three years.

Access to European football will cost an extra £5 per month for BT broadband customers, while Premier League and Scottish Premier League football - as well as Premiership rugby - will remain free.

Customers who take BT TV will receive the full BT Sport Pack for free including BT Sport 1, BT Sport 2, ESPN on BT Sport and the new BT Sport Europe channel, which launches on August 1.

BT Sport will make a selection of matches available for anyone to watch, including non-subscribers, via a new free-to-air channel called BT Sport Showcase.

The company has announced it will also launch the first Ultra HD channel in Europe, BT Sport Ultra HD, which will first broadcast for the Community Shield.

John Petter, chief executive of BT Consumer, said: ''This is a new chapter for European football on TV.

''BT Sport will show hundreds of live matches throughout the tournament using the very latest technology.

''Our presenters and experts will also provide the smartest insight and analysis.''