One of the first pearls of Klopp's Liverpool says farewell to Anfield after eight amazing years
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 17.05.24. | 12:38
Joel Matip, 32, will leave the Reds after the end of the season, just like the German tactician
A silent African hero is about to depart Merseyside.
After eight exciting years with the Reds, Joel Matip's contract expires at the end of the current season, and he will leave Liverpool.
The 32-year-old Cameroonian joined Anfield lot on a free transfer from Schalke 04 in 2016 and has made 201 appearances across eight seasons at the club.
Joel Matip will bid farewell to the Reds this summer after an eight-season spell during which he helped the club to some of its most memorable modern moments.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 17, 2024
Thank you for everything, Joel ❤️
Matip won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup with Liverpool and was one of Klopp's first signings at Liverpool when he joined ahead of the 2016-17 campaign.
"In all the years that I have been involved in football, I am not sure I have come across too many players who are more loved than Joel Matip. I'm not even sure it would be possible to say anything bad about him," said Klopp.
"A wonderful professional, a wonderful footballer and a wonderful human being - we have been blessed to have him with us for as long as we have and now all we can do is wish him well as he heads off in a new direction.
A brilliant player, a big character and forever a part of our history 🫶 pic.twitter.com/7SkCRwqatY
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 17, 2024
"Joel's qualities as a player are there for all to see and as a club we have benefited from them since the first moment that he joined. I don't think he has had too many headlines over the years but he has only ever been a very famous figure within our group.
"I have said before that if there was one person who wouldn't care if he was underrated it would be Joel, but the truth is we could not have rated him more highly. Not only has he set the standards for himself, he has set them for others and this is one of the main reasons why his time here has been so successful."
Matip's final game for Liverpool was the 4-3 victory over Fulham in December, where he suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
He'll say goodbye to the Liverpool fans against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in the ultimate match of the season on Sunday.
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE - FINAL MATCHDAY
Sunday
18:00: (1.15) Arsenal (7.75) Everton (19.0)
18:00: (3.00) Brentford (3.95) Newcastle (2.15)
18:00: (2.25) Brighton (3.60) Man.Utd. (3.05)
18:00: (2.85) Burnley (3.50) Nott.Forest (2.40)
18:00: (1.42) Chelsea (5.20) Bournemouth (6.40)
18:00: (1.90) Crystal Palace (4.10) Aston Villa (3.60)
18:00: (1.20) Liverpool (7.25) Wolverhampton (12.0)
18:00: (3.05) Luton (3.60) Fulham (2.25)
18:00: (1.12) Man.City (10.0) West Ham (16.0)
18:00: (7.50) Sheffield Utd (6.20) Tottenham (1.32)
***odds are subject to change***
