Takumi Minamino has been sold to AS Monaco. The Ligue 1 club will pay £ 13 million immediately, with the possibility of a further £ 2.5 million after bonuses for the Japanese national team player.
Liverpool FC confirm the sale in a press release.
Minamino is said to have flown from Japan to Monaco to take the medical check earlier this week, and he has signed a four-year contract at Stade Louis II. There he will play under Philippe Clement. The striker was wanted by several clubs this summer, such as Leeds, Southampton, Wolverhampton and Lyon. That the choice fell on Monaco has seemed clear for a few weeks.
With that, Liverpool will get back double the £ 7.75 million they paid RB Salzburg when the player was bought in January 2020.
Minamino turned red after he had impressed a lot against the all-reds for RB Salzburg in the Champions League in the 2019/20 season. Liverpool paid his relatively low buy-out clause, and financially it must be said that he has been a very successful purchase for the Reds.
Right into the pandemic
Minamino had some tough first months in England, when the corona pandemic caused everything to shut down. Sitting at home, without the opportunity to train and get to know his teammates was not easy, but already in his first half of the season he was involved in winning the Premier League.
The following season he was loaned out to Southampton in the spring, before he was back in the squad this season, and proved to be a very important player especially in the domestic cups that Klopp’s team won. He became the top scorer in both the FA Cup and the League Cup this season.
“Taki” is now continuing his career in French football, after 14 goals and three goals in 55 games for Liverpool FC.
“He is undoubtedly a person who helps to set the standard,” Klopp has stated. He has also said that it is “criminal” that the 27-year-old has not been given more playing time, and referred to him as “a coach’s dream”.
Liverpool FC thank Minamino for his efforts, and wish him the best of luck in the next chapter of his career.