Transfer sensation from Liverpool
Werder sign Klopp’s former darling Keita
06/09/2023, 2:01 p.m
He once received Steven Gerrard’s number at Liverpool FC, but now Naby Keita is making a completely unexpected move to Werder Bremen: The former player of choice from star coach Jürgen Klopp and ex-Leipziger has repeatedly struggled with injuries at the Reds and is coming to the Weser on a free transfer.
Spectacular transfer from the Mersey to the Weser: Bundesliga soccer club Werder Bremen has surprisingly strengthened with Naby Keita from Liverpool FC. As the Hanseatic League confirmed in the afternoon, the 28-year-old midfielder is moving to the Hanseatic city on a free transfer. As usual, the club did not announce the contract period.
“We are very happy that we were able to convince Naby despite several offers from Werder,” said Clemens Fritz, head of scouting and professional football at the North Germans. Coach Ole Werner added: “Naby is an important building block in our central axis. He brings a lot of international experience to the team.” Naby himself described his new employer as a “special club” and was convinced that he had made the right decision. “The coach made me feel really good and showed me that I could help the team,” he explained.
Klopp’s dream player, Werder with hope
However, the Guinea international is considered to be prone to injury, within five years he only made 84 appearances in the Premier League with the Reds under Jürgen Klopp, most recently in February of this year. When he switched to the Reds in 2018, Keita was considered Klopp’s absolute dream player after strong years at RB Leipzig. In Liverpool he was even given the prestigious number 8, previously worn by captain and legend Steven Gerrard. Just over two years ago, Klopp said that Keita’s future was “long-term” in Liverpool, but his working paper with the Reds was then not renewed. Werder Bremen is now happy and hopes that the midfielder will remain injury-free on the Weser and be able to get back to his old Bundesliga form. “We now want to bring him back to his top level,” said Fritz.
In 2019, Keita won the Champions League with Liverpool, and a year later he became English champion. The midfielder switched from Leipzig to Anfield in 2018 for 60 million euros.