Liverpool flop faces exile until January after late transfer collapsed

Tom Weber

Updated: 14 Sept 2024 15:37 BST
3 min read

Naby Keita, Werder Bremen, Liverpool — © IMAGO

The last few years of Naby Keita's career could scarcely have gone worse, and now the former Liverpool midfielder is once again at the heart of controversy.

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The Guinea international left the Reds for Werder Bremen last summer in a surprising free transfer move. His contract at Liverpool had ended after a disappointing, injury-disrupted spell at Anfield and the Bundesliga side took a major risk by signing him.

Not blessed with particular affluence, Bremen made significant financial sacrifices to bring Keita back to Germany despite his well-known injury problems. The gamble did not pay off.

Last season, Keita barely featured. Initially, this was due to his fitness issues, but over time, it became a disciplinary problem. Keita went AWOL in the spring after being told that he would not start against Bayer Leverkusen and was subsequently suspended and fined.

Keita 'ruins' transfer

At the time, it was claimed that Bremen would tear up his contract in the summer, but this did not materialise. The transfer window of Europe's major leagues came and went and Keita remained on the books in northern Germany.

On Friday, his nightmare stint finally appeared to be over. With the Turkish window still open until the end of the day, Super Lig side Hatayspor agreed a loan deal with the option to purchase Keita next summer.

Turkish media even claimed that the player had already completed his medical, but as the window closed, Keita still had not officially left Werder. According to reports in Germany, this is because the player and the club ultimately failed to agree on personal terms at the last minute.

Now, the Guinea international faces potentially sitting on the sidelines until January. Bremen are said to be irritated but reluctant to terminate his contract as he would be entitled to a hefty compensation. Talks are expected to take place next week to try to find a solution for Keita.