Loris Karius has joined Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas on an initial two-year loan that will likely draw his troubled Liverpool career to a close.
Karius arrived from Mainz in 2016, hailed as the saviour of the Reds’ long-term problems between the sticks.
Voted the second-best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga in his final season with Jurgen Klopp‘s old club, behind only Manuel Neuer, the German was expected to settle as No. 1.
But a broken hand in his first pre-season, followed by a difficult start on his return to the side, saw him fall behind Simon Mignolet, before reclaiming his place at the start of 2018.
After a strong run of form, however, a miserable night in the Champions League final—hampered with concussion, no less—put paid to his time on Merseyside.
The signing of Alisson in a then world-record deal with Roma, and the failure to sell Simon Mignolet, has therefore seen Liverpool agree a complicated deal with Besiktas.
Karius has joined the Istanbul club for two years, with the Reds receiving £2.25 million, and will move permanently for £7.25 million if he meets performance-based targets.
Liverpool will also have a 20 percent sell-on clause if the deal becomes permanent.
He is also believed to have signed a new one-year contract with his parent club, however, with an option to extend this by a further 12 months if he returns in 2020.
The 25-year-old’s switch to Turkey is likely to see Mignolet remain as Alisson‘s backup, with Kamil Grabara and Caoimhin Kelleher vying for the role of third choice.
While it is far from the situation both Karius and Liverpool envisaged two years ago, this should be a beneficial deal for the stopper as he looks to rebuild his reputation on the continent.
This Is Anfield wish Loris all the best!
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