Liverpool can now finally complete Fabio Carvalho’s move from Fulham after Director of Football, Tony Khan, confirmed he will leave the club this summer.
The Reds were close to signing him in the summer but a deal fell through at the 11th hour and now an agreement has been widely reported as being in place over the last few weeks.
Name: Fábio Leandro Freitas Gouveia Carvalho
Age: 19
Height: 1.7m (5 ft 7 in)
Position: Attacking midfielder, winger.
Foot: Right
Goals: 12
Assists: 8
Liverpool reach agreement with Fulham and Carvalho for summer move
Fabrizio Romano was the first to break the news that Liverpool reached an agreement with Fulham for the transfer of Carvalho.
They aren’t paying a transfer fee in the traditional sense as the attacking midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season but rather they are paying a compensation fee for his development.
Fulham will receive £5million up front and £2.7million in add-ons.
An announcement is expected imminently as Fulham are set to conclude their promotion-securing Championship season against Sheffield United on the 7th of May.
Liverpool can finally announce Carvalho’s move to Anfield
With Fulham’s season almost over and all the necessary paperwork signed, Liverpool are almost free to announce Carvalho as a Red.
It’s been a long time coming since his January move from Fulham collapsed but even if he had been signed in the winter transfer window, he would have been loaned straight back to the Cottagers so nothing would have changed from a fan’s perspective.
Now, however, with the summer on its way and the 19-year-old set to join the club, he can enjoy his holiday and rest up ahead of what will be the most gruelling pre-season of his life.
Where will Carvalho fit in at Anfield among the Reds’ current superstars?
Now that is the big question. While he’s naturally an attacking midfielder, he’s also capable of playing as a false nine or out wide.
With Roberto Firmino out of contract in 2023, it’s my theory that Klopp will train him to be the Brazilian’s heir.
Carvalho’s finishing is simply outstanding. His 11 goals for Fulham this season paint that picture but you have to watch him to understand just how good his finishing really is.
Liverpool bound Fabio Carvalho on the score sheet once again for Fulham tonight pic.twitter.com/E7Y5M0Rl96
— Watch LFC (@Watch_LFC) May 2, 2022
His arrival will only serve to increase the fluidity with which Liverpool play between the lines.
It will be particularly fascinating to see how he and Thiago can link up in midfield as the Reds currently don’t have a midfielder with Carvalho’s goalscoring and playmaking abilities.
For £5million, he’s yet another Michael Edwards bargain and at 19, he has scope to develop for a decade at Liverpool.