Brentford have signed Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool after Mark Flekken completed his transfer to Bayer Leverkusen.
The Dutch goalkeeper leaves the Bees after two years at the club, moving for a transfer fee in the region of £11 million (€13m) inclusive of add-ons.
Brentford signed Flekken for a similar amount from SC Freiburg in 2023 and he went on to keep 14 clean sheets in 74 Premier League starts.
Leverkusen signing paves way for £18m Liverpool transfer
The west London outfit have now replaced the 31-year-old with Liverpool goalkeeper Kelleher.
The two clubs have agreed a deal worth an initial £12.5m, with performance-related add-ons potentially taking the figure up to £18m.
Kelleher made 64 appearances in all competitions for the Reds, keeping 24 clean sheets in total, winning the Premier League, Uefa Champions League, FA Cup and two League Cups along the way.
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The Republic of Ireland international has established himself as arguably the best backup shot stopper in the English top flight over the past few years, but his postseason comments signalled a willingness to leave Anfield for a starting berth elsewhere.
“I feel like I’m a number one and good enough to play week-in, week-out. And that’s what I’m looking to do,” Kelleher told Optus Sport on the final day of the campaign.
“This season, I was lucky enough to play a lot of games but it’s definitely something I’m looking at.”
The writing was on the wall for the 26-year-old when Liverpool agreed a deal to sign Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia last summer. The Georgian goalkeeper remained there on loan last season ahead of his move.
Kelleher’s transfer will bag his former club, Ringmahon Rangers, a tidy sum. The Cork outfit secured a 20 percent sell-on fee when they sold the player to Liverpool in 2015, earning them at minimum £2.5m and as much as £3.6m if the add-ons are realised.
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