Liverpool have confirmed Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all leave the club when their contracts expire this summer.
The quartet’s contracts all expired from June 30 and will set off on new assignments when Liverpool’s season concludes on May 28.
Liverpool confirmed their departure in a statement released on Wednesday.
It said: “Liverpool FC can confirm that Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave the club when their contracts expire this summer.”
“The quartet will each open a new chapter in their careers at the conclusion of the 2022/23 season, having helped the Reds to a number of the game’s biggest honors during their time at Anfield.
“All four players will leave with gratitude and appreciation for their contribution and we wish Roberto, Naby, James, Alex and their families all the best for the future.”
Firmino, 31, will leave Anfield after winning the Premier League, Champions League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and League Cup during his eight-year tenure with the club.
He joined Liverpool from Hoffenheim in June 2015 for £29million. The Brazil international has scored 109 goals in 360 appearances for Liverpool since arriving at the club.
Keita, 28, has made 129 appearances for Liverpool over his five seasons, with injuries and fitness issues preventing the former RB Leipzig midfielder from playing his best.
Liverpool signed Keita in July 2018 for a record £52.5million. That deal has since been surpassed by Virgil van Dijk, Darwin Nunez and Alisson.
Keita is set to leave Klopp’s side after winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League and Club World Cup at Liverpool.
He last played for Liverpool on February 25 as the Guinea international is currently out through injury.
Milner, 37, joined Liverpool from Manchester City on a free transfer in June 2015.
He helped Klopp’s side win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup and Club World Cup.
Brighton are big favorites to sign him, but Milner’s former Manchester City team-mate Vincent Kompany has campaigned to lure him to Burnley. Leeds United are also reportedly interested in bringing Milner back to the club where he made his Premier League debut aged 16 in 2002.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, 29, joined Liverpool from rivals Arsenal for £35m in August 2017.
The attacking midfielder, who has won five trophies with the club, has made 146 appearances for the club with injuries marring his time at the North West.
On Saturday, when Liverpool host Aston Villa, the Anfield crowd is likely to give the four players a warm goodbye and the club said the quartet would receive “special recognition” at Anfield.
After this game, Liverpool’s last game of the season takes place in Southampton.
Back-up goalkeeper Adrian is also out of contract this summer, but no decision has been made on his future as talks are ongoing.
Klopp’s side are a point behind Newcastle in third place and Manchester United in fourth place. Your top four rivals have a game against Liverpool ahead of them.
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Liverpool’s big farewell weekend ahead of the seismic transfer window
“Departure underscores Liverpool have an important summer ahead”
Analysis by Liverpool correspondent James Pearce:
The imminent departure of four veteran professionals as free agents underscores what a significant summer this is for Liverpool in the transfer market. Jurgen Klopp has built a trophy machine and is now attempting to assemble another.
Firmino, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Keita will always be linked with the 2019 Champions League triumph and the end of the club’s 30-year wait for the title next season. The level of recognition given to them on Saturday will reflect their varied contributions.
How Liverpool fill those gaps in the squad this summer will be crucial to the next phase of the Klopp era. The priority is strengthening midfield, with Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister, Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch among their top targets.
If they manage to make the late move into the top four it would certainly strengthen their position. There’s also the small matter of appointing a new sporting director while the club are in talks with former Wolfsburg boss Jörg Schmadtke to replace the outgoing Julian Ward.
There’s a lot to do, but this weekend is all about saying goodbye.
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Roberto Firmino was an underrated superstar – he will leave Liverpool a legend
(Photo: Getty Images)