Liverpool midfielder Pedro Chirivella has completed a season-long loan move to Eredivisie side Willem II, for his second spell away from the club.
The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season with Go Ahead Eagles in the Dutch top flight, but was unable to help the Deventer outfit avoid relegation.
After missing out on Jurgen Klopp‘s pre-season squads for both Hong Kong and Germany this month, Chirivella has joined Willem II for 2017/18.
Chirivella signed a new four-year contract with the Reds last summer, but Klopp clearly sees his development best served outside of England at this stage.
An intelligent, creative midfielder, Chirivella has made five appearances for the Reds so far, including making his full Premier League debut towards the end of 2015/16.
After that 3-1 defeat to Swansea City, however, Klopp stressed that Chirivella “forgot to orientate himself,” though he also described him as “a big, big talent.”
On joining Go Ahead Eagles last season, Chirivella took up a key role, featuring 17 times, scoring twice and assisting twice.
He also found the back of the net in Liverpool’s 4-0 pre-season friendly victory away to Tranmere Rovers earlier in July, and impressed in the 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic.
Whether he returns to take up a role under Klopp in the future remains to be seen, but his time in Tilburg can prove invaluable.
Liverpool signed Sami Hyypia from Willem II in 1999, with the Finnish centre-back going on to make 464 appearances for the club.
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