Liverpool have agreed on a permanent contract transfer from goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga to Brazilian side Fluminense after spending four years with the Premier League club.
The Reds originally recruited Rio de Janeiro-born Pitaluga from Fluminense in January 2021, moving to England for a reported fee of £2 million after he turned 18 the month before.
The outstanding goalkeeper joined the junior teams and quickly found himself playing in both the U18 Premier League and Premier League 2. In the following 2021/22 season, Pitaluga became a regular with the U21 players, but was also included in the first team matchday squad several times.
Liverpool saw fit to send him on loan to gain experience and the young player made his senior football debut for Phoenix side Macclesfield FC in the seventh tier. But further loans to St. Patrick’s Athletic and Livingston in the Republic of Ireland and Scotland respectively did not bring the opportunities he had hoped for.
Both Liverpool and Fluminense have announced the planned transfer, which remains subject to the formality of Pitaluga, now 22, undergoing a satisfactory medical test.
“Everyone at LFC wishes Marcelo the best of luck for the future,” Liverpool said in a statement.
Overall, Liverpool’s goalkeeping department is incredibly strong. Alisson Becker will continue to be supported by his substitute Caoimhin Kelleher, who has repeatedly proven that he can be a starter elsewhere in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Giorgi Mamardashvili will soon arrive from Valencia, recruited last summer as part of Euro 2024. Czech international Vitezslav Jaros also played this season.
Below the first team, Harvey Davies and Polish trio Fabian Mrozek, Jakub Ojrzynski and Kornel Misciur will be hoping for a place in the senior team if Kelleher and Jaros progress in a summer reshuffle.