Jurgen Klopp sends emotional message to Joel Matip as Liverpool confirm defender will depart Anfield this summer

The 32-year-old defender will leave the Merseyside outfit at the end of the campaign after 201 appearances and scoring 11 goals for the Reds. His time at Anfield was decorated with seven winner’s medals, including triumphs in the Premier League and the Champions League.

Matip was among the first signings made by Klopp as the manager got his services on a free transfer from Schalke 04. His ability to read the game and skilful ball-playing from the back made him a perfect fit for the German's style of play. Over the years, Matip became a fan favourite as he established himself as a key figure in the Liverpool dressing room with crucial contributions in both domestic and European competitions.

Klopp has always spoken highly of Matip and the manager once again lavished praise on the defender before they parted ways.

“In all the years that I have been involved in football, I am not sure I have come across too many players who are more loved than Joel Matip. I’m not even sure it would be possible to say anything bad about him,” said Klopp to the club website.

“A wonderful professional, a wonderful footballer and a wonderful human being – we have been blessed to have him with us for as long as we have and now all we can do is wish him well as he heads off in a new direction.

“Joel’s qualities as a player are there for all to see and as a club, we have benefited from them since the first moment that he joined. I don’t think he has had too many headlines over the years but he has only ever been a very famous figure within our group.

“I have said before that if there was one person who wouldn’t care if he was underrated it would be Joel, but the truth is we could not have rated him more highly. Not only has he set the standards for himself, he has set them for others and this is one of the main reasons why his time here has been so successful.”

Despite his successes, Matip's Liverpool career was not without its challenges. His influence waned in the last couple of seasons and an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Fulham in December dashed his hopes of re-establishing his importance to the squad. This injury prevented the former Cameroon international from playing again in the 2023-24 season as Liverpool's title challenge fell flat on its face in the final lap.

As Matip prepares to leave Liverpool, he does so with the respect and admiration of his teammates, coaches, and fans. His contributions to the club's success over the past eight years have left an indelible mark and his departure, along with Klopp's exit from Anfield, marks the end of an era at the club.