Keane leaves for Anfield via 'enforced deal'

Last updated : 28 July 2008 By Gareth Davies
Robbie Keane completed his move to Liverpool this afternoon in a transfer that chairman Daniel Levy described as an "enforced sale".

Levy revealed the details of the deal via the club's official website just moments ago and made clear the circumstances surrounding the acrimonious transfer, including:

  • Keane handed in an official transfer request, despite claiming he was happy to stay at the club just weeks before.

  • That Liverpool had been working hard behind closed doors to bring the player to Anfield.

  • That the deal is worth £19m up front with a potential additional £1.3m "compensation".

  • That Liverpool acknowledge that inappropriate comments were published on the club's website about a proposed move and that they have agreed to pay a sum to Tottenham's official charity. Levy has therefore decided not to pursue his complaint with the Premier League.

The statement on the official website is an unprecedented and candid view into the deal that was thrashed out between the club's over the past week.

Levy said: "I was incredibly disappointed when I first heard, not only that Liverpool had been working behind the scenes to bring Robbie to Anfield, but that Robbie himself wanted to go and he submitted a transfer request to this effect.

"I have already made my opinion clear on the nature of this transaction. I don't regard it as a transfer deal - that is something which happens between two clubs when they both agree to trade - this is very much an enforced sale."

Keane has signed a deal worth a reported £80,000 a week for a fee that makes him the second most expensive player Liverpool have ever bought. It is also the highest fee Tottenham have received for one our players.

From an impossible position and with his hand forced, Levy should be commended for getting an excellent price for the 28-year-old striker. Juande Ramos will be given this money, and more, to search for a replacement for Keane and continue to rebuild his squad. Russia's Andrey Arshavin and the Argentinian Diego Milito are just two possible acquisitions.