Veteran Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia will join Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season. The Finnish centre back, who joined Liverpool from Dutch outfit Willem II a decade ago for £2.5 million, had largely been used as a substitute in the last season with Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger all ahead in the pecking order. He was also not in Liverpool’s 25 member Champions League squad for the 2008-09 season.
Hyypia, whose contract at Liverpool ends this summer, was offered a new one year extension by Rafa Benitez with an option of joining the coaching staff, but refused as he still felt he could handle the pressures of modern football.
Newcastle had enquired about Hyypia’s availability in the January transfer window, but were turned down by Liverpool. A host of other Premier League clubs, including Stoke, Fulham and Wigan Athletic were interested in securing Hyypia’s services, but the Finn chose to move to the Bundesliga. He has signed a two year contract with Leverkusen.
Hyypia’s last game for Liverpool will be against Tottenham Hotspur. He is one of the three survivors from the Gerard Houllier regime in the current Anfield squad- Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are the other two.
Hyypia was captain of Liverpool when Jamie Redknapp left the club, and held it till Steven Gerrard was given the armband.