Liverpool allowed Caoimhin Kelleher to leave the club last summer after the Northern Irishman had spent several years as Alisson's understudy at Anfield
16:38, 12 Mar 2026Updated 16:45, 12 Mar 2026
Caoimhin Kelleher playing for Brentford
Caoimhin Kelleher was excellent for Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool has been warned it could end up regretting selling Caoimhin Kelleher last summer — but Reds legend John Aldridge hopes that there is a buy-back clause in the deal that took the Northern Irishman to Brentford.
Kelleher was Liverpool's back-up goalkeeper for several years prior to his exit, and was undeniably one of the best second-choice stoppers in world soccer.
The 27-year-old made plenty of appearances last season as Alisson struggled with injuries, but Arne Slot consistently maintained that the Brazilian would be his No.1 choice whenever he was fit. Kelleher made it clear last season that he wanted to be a first-choice pick for whichever club he paid for, and Liverpool did not stand in his way when Brentford came calling.
READ MORE: John Aldridge tells Liverpool to look at two defenders as transfer priority clearREAD MORE: Liverpool 'would love' Jurgen Klopp to return as pressure builds on Arne Slot
He's proved to be a good signing for the high-flying Bees, who are seventh in the Premier League table.
Meanwhile, he has been replaced as Liverpool's second-choice 'keeper by Giorgi Mamardashvili, who joined the Reds from Valencia last year.
Despite Mamardashvili's high potential, Aldridge hopes that there is a way that Kelleher could return to Liverpool in the future.
“Caoimhin Kelleher is a great keeper," Aldridge told BOYLE Sports, which offers the latest soccer odds. "We loved him, the fans loved him, experienced players loved him. He never did anything wrong, and was always immaculate. But he needed games, and Jurgen Klopp knew that.
“The club knew that it was unfair on him to get to the level he wants to get to, he needs to be playing. The one thing I was really shocked at was that he went for about £15 million.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher during the 2024/25 Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham at Anfield
Kelleher was a dependable No.2 for the Reds(Image: Getty Images)
“I thought he was going to be a £40million player, but I'm hoping that Liverpool has a little bit of a clause in there, which is why they got him so cheap, because he could still be a future Liverpool goalkeeper, because that was so cheap to let him go.
“I'm just hoping there's something in there so when Liverpool come knocking, we can get him back for £15million when he's had the experience.
“Chelsea? He can't go there. He's done his apprenticeship at Liverpool, he's in an apprenticeship now with a team that's doing really well.
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“Whatever happens, he could go to a big club down the road, absolutely. He's still relatively young in goalkeeper's terms as well, let's not forget that.”