**The deal that will move Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool to Brentford is finalised, with the two clubs settling on an agreement that will be worth up to €21.4m when all matters are settled.**
The initial fee will see the Anfield side net €15m, with the remainder coming their way in performance-related clauses. It looks like real value for money for Brentford and the move to regular, first choice football that Kelleher needs.
It also represents a very good dividend for the Premier League champions, who paid just over €30,000 to sign Kelleher from Cork City side Ringmahon Rangers 10 years ago.
But it also means the Mahon-based club will land a huge seven-figure payday, thanks to a 20 per cent sell-on clause negotiated at the time of his move in the summer of 2015. It will be a huge windfall for the Mahon-based club and a chance to reinvest in facilities and youth development for years to come.
Rangers previously earned €50,000 when Kelleher was capped competitively for Ireland at senior level. This move could bring up to €3m into the club’s coffers.
Kelleher has a year left on his Liverpool contract, but the signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia has signalled the end of his time at Anfield.
He made 10 Premier League appearances this season and played 10 more times in European and domestic cup competitions.
His switch to west London, where he will join up with Ireland teammate Nathan Collins, comes with 31-year-old Bees keeper Mark Flekken set to join Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
The transfer is the first of what is set to be a busy window at Gtech Community Stadium, with 20-goal winger Bryan Mbuemo expected to leave the club.
The fee is less than the €25m that Liverpool had indicated to potential suitors that they would seek for Kelleher.
Just last week the 26-year-old indicated his desire to seek regular first-team football
“Yeah, yeah definitely,” he said, after Liverpool’s final game of the season. “I've said it before as well, I feel like I'm good enough to be a No.1 and I feel like I'm good enough to play week in, week out and that's what I'm looking to do.
“This season I was lucky enough to play a lot of games but it's definitely something I'm looking at.
“The season I’ve had, I’ve played a lot of games and had that taste this season of being a number one.
“Whether that’s at Liverpool or elsewhere, that remains to be seen. My main focus at the moment is to be number one.
“Obviously I love playing for Ireland. A big ambition of mine is to be the number one here – obviously that only comes hand in hand when I’m number one at the club as well.
“That plays a major part as well, in terms of helping my case to be Ireland number one.”