Liverpool Football Club has announced the departure of Cameroonian defender Joel Matip at the end of the current 2023-2024 season. The 32-year-old Matip will bid farewell to Liverpool after a long tenure of 8 seasons. He was one of the first signings made by coach Jürgen Klopp, joining the Reds for free from Schalke.
Matip suffered a knee injury in December, resulting in a torn cruciate ligament, which has kept him sidelined since then. Liverpool's official website published a statement confirming that the player will embark on a new chapter in his career at the end of his contract with the club.
Klopp was quoted saying in an official statement: "In all the years I have worked in football, I am not sure I have come across many players that people love more than Matip." He added, "Matip is a professional player and a wonderful person, and we have been lucky to have him with us all this time, and now all we can do is wish him well."
Matip has participated in 201 matches with Liverpool across various competitions, scoring 11 goals, and has helped the team secure 7 titles, including the Champions League and the English Premier League. Matip will leave alongside Klopp to say goodbye to Liverpool's fans during the last league match of the season against Wolverhampton next Sunday.
