Takumi Minamino has left Liverpool after two-and-a-half years, with the versatile forward joining Monaco in a deal worth over two times the fee he arrived for.
The club has now confirmed the transfer, with the Japanese swapping Liverpool for Monaco for £12.9 million rising to £15.5 million.
That represents an £8 million profit on the fee paid to sign him from Red Bull Salzburg in 2020.
It was often a thankless task for Minamino at Anfield, filling in when required but never cementing himself as a regular starter.
His arrival on Merseyside came in lockdown, bringing a unique challenge for a player who barely spoke English, and understandably he spent the second half of 2020/21 on loan with Southampton.
But the 27-year-old returned to play a key role in the remarkable campaign just gone, scoring 10 and assisting one in only 22 appearances.
Only Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino netted more than Minamino, who averaged a goal or assist every 81.3 minutes in all competitions.
He was vital on the road to the FA Cup and League Cup finals but featured in neither of the victories over Chelsea at Wembley, which was clearly a blow for the No. 18.
In a recent interview, Minamino claimed that most of the games he played in “weren’t of interest to anyone,” and it is no surprise, then, that he sought a permanent exit this summer.
The forward departs having made 55 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 14 goals, and will be remembered fondly for his contribution at Anfield.
All the best, Taki!
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