Liverpool FC has officially announced the departure of Brazilian midfielder Fabinho, who is set to join Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad after spending five successful years at Anfield.
The 29-year-old has signed a lucrative three-year contract with the club, in a deal reportedly worth £40 million. Fabinho’s move to Al-Ittihad follows the transfers of Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, and Jota to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
The transfer saga had its share of drama, as Al-Ittihad had tabled their £40m offer some time ago. However, disagreements over the payment structure initially threatened to derail the deal.
Fortunately, both clubs quickly resolved the issues, and Fabinho successfully underwent his medical with Al-Ittihad over the weekend, leading to his official unveiling on Monday evening.
During his time with Liverpool, Fabinho made a significant impact, contributing 11 goals and 10 assists from 219 matches.
The Reds acquired the talented midfielder from Ligue 1 side AS Monaco in 2018 for a fee of £38.5 million. He swiftly established himself as one of the Premier League’s top defensive midfielders under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp.
Fabinho enjoyed immense success during his tenure with Liverpool, winning the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup in his debut season. He played a vital role in securing the Club World Cup and Liverpool’s maiden Premier League title in the subsequent year.
Additionally, he achieved an FA Cup and EFL Cup double during the 2021-22 season, scoring eight goals across all competitions.
However, last season proved to be challenging for Fabinho and Liverpool, as they missed out on qualifying for the 2023-24 Champions League.
With the departure of several other midfielders, including Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita, Liverpool has been actively searching for replacements.
In response to the midfield cull, Klopp has made some significant signings, including Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Nonetheless, the Reds are still on the lookout for a like-for-like replacement for Fabinho. One player rumored to be on their radar is Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, valued at £50m.
Liverpool’s preparations for the upcoming season continue, with the team set to face Bayern Munich in their penultimate pre-season match.
The fixture will also mark the Reds’ first game since appointing Virgil van Dijk as their new permanent captain.