CAOIMHÍN KELLEHER has completed a move to Premier League side Brentford from Liverpool.
Shortly after Brentford confirmed the exit of their Dutch international ‘keeper Mark Flekken to Bayer Leverkusen, the club announced the arrival of Kelleher.
Kelleher has signed a five-year contract at Brentford, with the option of another.
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The reported transfer fee is an initial £12.5 million (€14.8 million) that may rise to £18 million (€21.3 million) if a series of performance-related add-ons are reached. Kelleher’s schoolboy club Ringmahon Rangers are due a windfall thanks to a sell-on clause brokered with Liverpool. That clause is reported to be 20% of the initial fee paid for Kelleher, but the club did not comment when contacted earlier by The 42.
“I’m buzzing, I’m really happy to be here,” said Kelleher.
“I don’t think it was very difficult for me to leave [Liverpool]. I felt for my own career that the time was right for me to go, to be a no.1 and to play every week.
“I heard of some interest a number of weeks ago. Once I knew Brentford was in for me, it was definitely one I was really excited about and wanted to do as quickly as possible.
“I like the way the manager and the coaching staff go about their ways. It seems like a really close, tight knit, family club. They’ve got a really good track record of improving and developing players which is really what’s drawn me to the club.”
More to follow