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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 13, 2018: Liverpool's Nathaniel Clyne during the pre-match warm-up before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Nathaniel Clyne finally finds new club after release from Liverpool

Nathaniel Clyne has finally sealed a permanent transfer following his release from Liverpool in July, with the right-back completing a return to former club Crystal Palace on a short-term deal.

Clyne spent five years on the books at Anfield, but only featured regularly in his first two seasons, with injury and the rise of Trent Alexander-Arnold limiting his chances.

It was inevitable, therefore, that the right-back would depart on the expiry of his contract, and the club did not even offer Clyne an extension to see him through to the delayed end of 2019/20.

Adam Lallana and Andy Lonergan both put pen to paper on short-term deals in June, before leaving Liverpool after celebrating the Premier League title the following month.

Clyne, who had been training alone at Kirkby following his return from an ACL injury, quietly exited five years after signing in a £12.5 million move from Southampton.

Given his injury history, there will have been concerns for any club running the rule over Clyne ahead of a possible free transfer, and Palace manager Roy Hodgson challenged the right-back to prove his fitness in training.

Palace confirmed in mid-September that Clyne would be joining their first team for sessions for a short period, and having sufficiently impressed Hodgson he has now signed a short-term contract which is reported to run until January.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Wednesday, November 29, 2011: Crystal Palace's manager Dougie Freedman celebrates with Nathaniel Clyne after his side's 2-1 victory over Manchester United during the Football League Cup Quarter-Final match at Old Trafford. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

It marks a return to Selhurst Park for Clyne, who came through the ranks at Palace from under-8 level and made his senior debut for the club in the Championship, going on to play 137 times.

Liverpool have now seen the majority of the players released at the end of the season find new clubs, with Lonergan a notable exception.

Lallana joined Brighton, Pedro Chirivella headed to Nantes and Isaac Christie-Davies signed a deal with Barnsley, while Shamal George (Colchester), Kai McKenzie-Lyle (Cambridge United) and Niall Brookwell (Newcastle) have also landed elsewhere.

The Reds take on Palace for the first time this season on December 19, with a trip to Selhurst Park in the Premier League.