Liverpool have sold backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to Brentford in a deal worth £18 million, inclusive of add-ons.

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Kelleher joins BrentfordLiverpool to receive £18m from transferIrishman pens five-year dealFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Kelleher, who signed his first professional contract with Liverpool in 2018, has exited Anfield and joined Brentford on a five-year deal, the Bees confirmed on Tuesday.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT KELLEHER SAID

After putting pen to paper on his Brentford contract, Kelleher told the club's official website: "I’m buzzing, I’m really happy to be here. I don’t think it was very difficult for me to leave [Liverpool]. I felt for my own career that the time was right for me to go, to be a no.1 and to play every week. I heard of some interest a number of weeks ago. Once I knew Brentford was in for me, it was definitely one I was really excited about and wanted to do as quickly as possible. When I come back for pre-season, all focus will be on what I want to do next year; to work on certain goals and what I need to improve on, and to have a really good season for Brentford."

He added, "I came down to meet the manager and some of the coaches. They spoke to me about why they wanted me to be here and showed me around the training ground. It was interesting to see their point of view on why they wanted to sign me and how they think they can develop my game. It was impressive and I think the club’s a really good fit for me. It was interesting to see their point of view on why they wanted to sign me and how they think they can develop my game. It was impressive and I think the club’s a really good fit for me.

"I like the way the manager and the coaching staff go about their ways. It seems like a really close, tight knit, family club. They’ve got a really good track record of improving and developing players which is really what’s drawn me to the club. I obviously spoke to Nathan [Collins]. He spoke really well about the whole club and it’s nice to know Sepp [van den Berg] and Fabio [Carvalho] as well. It’ll make it easier for me to settle in and be nice to have a few friendly faces."

Getty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Liverpool, who are set to welcome Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia this summer, will receive a cash boost of £18m from the sale of Kelleher, who has been Alisson's deputy since the start of his career. The 26-year-old appeared in 20 matches across all competitions in his final season on Merseyside, including the Carabao Cup final defeat against Newcastle.

WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

Liverpool will now refocus their attentions on signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen after seeing a €130m rejected by the Bundesliga side.