He arrived for nothing and will depart for nothing. In between, though, James Milner has made an almost invaluable contribution to Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp.
The news this week Milner will pass up the opportunity to again extend his Anfield career and instead head for pastures new - Brighton and Hove Albion would appear his next destination - will further cut the ties to the Reds' all-conquering team of three years ago.
That Klopp has always maintained there will be a place for Milner as long as he remains in charge underlines the esteem with which the Liverpool boss holds the midfielder. Similar to Roberto Firmino - another to leave at the end of the season - Milner was a gift inherited by Klopp from his predecessor Brendan Rodgers and the Reds' recruitment team, having been signed on a free transfer from Manchester City a few months before the German took control in October 2015.
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Consider this. Milner's brief outing from the bench at home to Fulham in the Premier League in midweek was his 328th appearance for the club and moved him only one behind the long-serving Terry McDermott. A few weeks ago, Milner surpassed the tally of the legendary Kevin Keegan.
Longevity is one thing, though. And while much is rightly made of Milner's influence in the dressing room - new signings and Academy graduates will regularly namecheck him as a significant help - that would count for little if the player didn't set the example on the field, regularly shining with his versatility, composure and experience. Milner was appointed vice-captain by Rodgers to Jordan Henderson on his arrival, and it is particularly telling Klopp has seen no reason to change either role.
Having started the League Cup and Europa League final defeats in his debut season, Milner then switched to left-back the following campaign and helped Liverpool into the top four. Back in midfield the next year, he contributed a Champions League record number of assists and started the final defeat to Real Madrid.
When the Reds went one better in 2019, Milner rattled Lionel Messi to such an extent he was labelled a "donkey" by the Barcelona man during the first leg of the semi-final and, in the return, was forced to switch from midfield to left-back at half-time. But in characteristic style, it was Milner taking the ball to the corner flag to see out time as the final whistle blew on Anfield's most memorable night. On the bench for the final, he then came on and swung in the corner from which Divock Origi sealed a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Milner's fingerprints have been all over Liverpool's successes under Klopp, his penalties home and away to Leicester City pivotal in the championship-winning campaign of 2020, while his spot kicks sent the Reds on their way to shoot-out success against Chelsea in the League and FA Cups last season.
"What happened over the past seven-and-a-half years, all the positive things, none of it would happen without James Milner," said Klopp on Friday.
At 37, though, time is catching up with Milner. Nothing lasts forever. While appearing in all bar one of Liverpool's last 19 games, only three have been as a starter and none of his 10 most recent Premier League outings have lasted half-an-hour. Milner has made only six league starts this season. The mind may be willing but the body is perhaps now only capable of keeping pace in short bursts.
With Stefan Bajcetic breaking through this term and both Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott stepping up their progress, Milner perhaps accepts the time is right - even with fellow midfielders Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also leaving this summer - to hand over to the next generation.
And he would know, having made his debut for Leeds United aged just 16 way back in 2002. Indeed, it was no coincidence Milner was the sole first-team player in attendance to watch an under-23 side win their FA Cup fourth round replay against Shrewsbury Town at Anfield in February 2020, the youngsters - including Elliott and Jones - given pre-match words of advice in the dressing room by their senior colleague before being cheered on from the dugout.
In an age of eye-watering transfer fees, flashy highlights reels and short attention spans, the no-nonsense approach of Milner was never going to appeal to everyone, even if the Anfield crowd have always appreciated the strength of his commitment and tackling. No reputation has been too grand. Just ask Neymar.
Liverpool's greatest-ever free transfer? Most probably. And Milner serves as a reminder that while the right player doesn't have to cost a fortune, experience can be priceless. The Klopp era is losing one of its foundations.
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