As well as Joel Matip, Liverpool have this morning announced Thiago Alcantara will be leaving the club at the end of his contract this summer too.
The FA Cup winner with the Reds has been hit by injuries over the past two seasons, making just one appearance this term.
However, he won admirers for his technical play across his four campaigns at Anfield.
“Before he even came to Liverpool I believed that if you really love football it would make a lot of sense if you watched Thiago Alcantara play,” said Jurgen Klopp.
“Technically, he is so, so good. A talent who could play in any team in the world and it was a privilege to have him with us.
“I already knew a lot about him as a footballer before he got here – what he did at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, how could you not? – and I could not have been happier when he decided to take on a new challenge with us.
“From that point on I got to see him up close and all I can say is ‘Wow’. Most importantly, he was part of a new story and helped us develop as a team because of his special qualities.
Matip leaving Liverpool this summer
Joel Matip will leave Liverpool this summer at the end of his contract.
The centre-back has won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup with the Reds over eight seasons on Merseyside.
Matip, 32, suffered an ACL injury in December, meaning his final game for the Reds was a 4-3 home win against Fulham.
Jurgen Klopp paid tribute to Matip on the Liverpool website.
“In all the years that I have been involved in football, I am not sure I have come across too many players who are more loved than Joel Matip. I’m not even sure it would be possible to say anything bad about him,” said Klopp.
“A wonderful professional, a wonderful footballer and a wonderful human being – we have been blessed to have him with us for as long as we have and now all we can do is wish him well as he heads off in a new direction.”
