(Football news) Fabinho has finalised his £40 million move to Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad. The Brazilian international has agreed to terms with the Saudi champions, who are one of four Saudi top-flight clubs owned by the country’s Public Investment Fund. After Henderson’s departure to Al Ettifaq, Fabinho becomes the second senior midfielder to leave Liverpool for Saudi Arabia this summer.
After joining Liverpool from Monaco in 2019, Fabinho made over 200 games, winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.
Jurgen Klopp has restructured his midfield this summer, with Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai filling the voids left by Henderson and Fabinho. Liverpool is also interested in Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.
Virgil van Dijk is the new captain, with Trent Alexander-Arnold serving as his deputy; Fabinho joins Henderson in Saudi Arabia in a £40 million transfer; Henderson was captain for eight years after Steven Gerrard left in 2015, but he gave up the armband in July when he went to Saudi Pro League team Al Ettifaq, coached by Gerrard.Milner’s departure from Liverpool after his contract expired left the position of vice-captain open, and academy graduate Alexander-Arnold was picked as his replacement.
Van Dijk told Liverpool’s website: “A really proud day for me, for my wife, for my kids, my family. It’s been a special feeling.
“Obviously I’m captain of Holland, that was already such a huge honour, a proud moment as well. But also to be the captain of Liverpool is something that I can’t describe at this point.
“It’s just something that makes me very proud and I will do everything in my power to make everyone proud and happy with me and the football club.”
Van Dijk joined Liverpool in 2018 and has since won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, and Community Shield.
