Fabio Carvalho’s stint at Anfield has concluded as Liverpool has decided to sell him to Brentford, a development that former manager Jurgen Klopp anticipated years ago.
The deal for Carvalho includes a fixed fee of $25 million (£20 million) plus an additional $9.6 million (£7.5 million) in add-ons. Liverpool will also receive a 17.5 percent sell-on fee from any future transfer.
Carvalho demonstrated his potential by starting on the left wing in all three of Liverpool’s pre-season games, scoring in two friendlies against Arsenal and Manchester United during the Reds’ U.S. tour. Although the 21-year-old seemed ready to compete for a first-team place at Anfield, the opportunity for more playing time elsewhere was a key factor in his move.
Since transferring from Fulham to Liverpool in the summer of 2022, Carvalho has had difficulty securing regular playing time, netting three goals in 21 appearances. Klopp, speaking towards the end of the 2022-23 season, praised Carvalho’s talent but acknowledged the challenge of limited minutes. “There’s a chance Fabio might go on loan or something similar,” Klopp said. “This year might not have been his best, but it could be his most significant. No player has impressed me more than Fabio.”
“That’s the reality. This highly skilled young player came here with ambitious dreams and high expectations. Initially, things seemed fine, but it didn’t pan out in the end. His strong work ethic promises a great career because he trained hard despite receiving little in return. For a player, there’s only one chance each week: either you play me, or if not, include me in the squad.
“That’s the only way to keep a player content. If I don’t, it’s about the player’s response and I’ve never seen such reactions before. It’s incredible. Whether he’ll go on loan or stay with us remains to be seen.”
In the following season, Carvalho was loaned to RB Leipzig but struggled in the first half of the Bundesliga season. He later found form in the Championship with Hull City, scoring nine goals in 20 starts.
This summer, Brentford, among other clubs, showed interest in Carvalho, who is set to sign a five-year contract with Thomas Frank’s team. Liverpool will now refocus on their pursuit of Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.”
