Skrtel completes Liverpool exit with Fenerbahce switch

Oli Fisher
Martin Skrtel: Close to leaving Anfield

Martin Skrtel: Completed move to Fenerbahce

Fenerbahce have completed the signing of Martin Skrtel, who leaves Liverpool after eight years at Anfield

Fenerbahce confirmed last week that they had entered negotiations with Liverpool to sign the Slovakian international and the 31-year-old passed a medical yesterday, ahead of the move to Turkey for £5m.

During his time at Anfield, Skrtel made over 300 appearances in eight years at the Reds after signing for £6.5m from Zenit St Petersburg.

The defender scored 18 goals in his time at the club, including the equaliser in the club’s League Cup final victory over Cardiff in 2012, along with winning the clubs player of the year award that season.

Skrtel found himself out of favour at Anfield after the arrival of Jurgen Klopp in October 2015, featuring just 27 times for the Reds in 2015-16, his fewest appearances since joining the club.

The Slovakians departure comes following the arrival of Joel Matip from Schalke on a pre-contract agreement, with the Cameroon international likely to compete with Mamadou Sakho in partnering Dejan Lovren in the centre of the Liverpool defence.

Sakho is now free to play having been cleared of violating anti-drug laws, but could now miss the start of the season due to an achilles problem.

Klopp is rumoured to be targeting FC Koln’s Jonas Hector to add to his defensive ranks, following Skrtel’s departure and the release of Kolo Toure earlier this summer.