Liverpool have confirmed that Brazilian midfielder Fabinho has left the club to join Al-Ittihad after five years at Anfield.
The 29-year-old has signed for the Saudi Arabian champions on a three-year deal for a reported £40m fee, following Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Jota to Nuno Espirito Santo's side.
Fabinho has penned a three-year deal with Al-Ittihad, who had tabled their £40m offer some time ago, but a deal appeared to be in jeopardy at one stage due to disagreements over the payment structure.
However, the two clubs quickly found a resolution, and Fabinho completed his medical with Al-Ittihad over the weekend before his official unveiling on Monday evening.
The former Monaco man leaves Liverpool having amassed 11 goals and 10 assists from 219 matches for the club, who paid £38.5m to bring him to Anfield from Ligue 1 in 2018.
Welcome Fabinho 🐅 pic.twitter.com/JFaG2xdZts
— Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) July 31, 2023
Fabinho won the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup during his debut campaign with Liverpool, and he quickly established himself as one of the Premier League's top defensive midfielders under Klopp.
One year later, Fabinho played a crucial role in Liverpool's Club World Cup success and maiden Premier League title triumph, while he also collected an FA Cup and EFL Cup double in the 2021-22 season, netting eight goals along the way in all competitions.
The Brazil international set up another two goals in 49 appearances last term, but he experienced a noticeable decline in form as Klopp's side failed to qualify for the 2023-24 Champions League.
Fabinho departs for Saudi Arabia only a few days after ex-Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson sealed a lucrative transfer to Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq, where the Englishman will reportedly earn around £700,000 a week.
The Reds also lost Arthur, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner at the end of June when their contracts expired, while Leighton Clarkson has completed a permanent move to Aberdeen.
© Reuters
Klopp has responded to Liverpool's midfield cull by bringing in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but the Reds are still searching for a like-for-like replacement for Fabinho.
Stefan Bajcetic was a shining light for Liverpool in the number six role last season, but his breakthrough year was cut short by a serious adductor problem, which he is yet to fully recover from.
As a result, Klopp has confirmed that his side are hoping to bring another new midfielder to the club this summer, and they are believed to have made Southampton's Romeo Lavia their top target.
Liverpool have supposedly failed with one £37m offer for the Belgian starlet, who is valued at £50m by Southampton, but the Merseyside giants will soon return with an improved bid.
Liverpool's play their penultimate pre-season match against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, which will mark the Reds' first game since the appointment of Virgil van Dijk as the club's new permanent captain.
Ben Knapton
