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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Liverpool departures confirmed as James Milner and three others to leave club

Liverpool have confirmed vice-captain James Milner will depart the club at the end of the season on a free transfer - along with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Roberto Firmino.

All four will leave Anfield when their current contracts expire in the summer as Jurgen Klopp looks to rebuild his squad ahead of the new campaign.

With Firmino having already revealed he would leave, Milner is the most high-profile exit having so far made 330 appearances and scored 26 goals for the Reds since arriving on a free transfer from Manchester City in the summer of 2015.

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He went on to become a key part of Klopp's squad, and played in each final as Liverpool won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in 2019, along with the League Cup, FA Cup and Community Shield last year, and made 22 Premier League outings in the title-winning campaign of 2019/20.

Milner has appeared in 41 of Liverpool's 50 games this season but has made only four starts since the World Cup, with his 16-minute outing from the bench at Leicester City on Monday his longest game time in two months. The ECHO understands Milner wasn't offered a new playing contract by the club.

The 37-year-old is expected to attract interest from a number of clubs, with Premier League rivals Brighton and former club Leeds United among those reported to be considering an offer.

The departure of fellow midfielders Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain had been expected with neither agreeing a new deal with Liverpool.

Keita, who cost £52.75million from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2018, has been restricted to just five starts this season through injury and hasn't played since being substituted at half-time in the goalless draw at Crystal Palace on February 25. The 28-year-old has played 129 times for Liverpool, scoring 11 goals.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, meanwhile, last featured in the defeat at Manchester City last month, and has made 146 appearances and scored 18 goals since signing from Arsenal for £35m in August 2017. Like Keita, the 29-year-old's opportunities have been limited due to injury setbacks.

Firmino had previously confirmed he would leave after declining the chance to sign a new deal. All four will have a chance to bid their farewells to the Anfield crowd for the final Premier League home game of the season against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Adrian is also set to be out of contract in the summer, but talks are continuing over the 36-year-old - who has made just two senior appearances since February 2021 - extending his stay at the club.

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