Kirkland completes baggies move - Season long loan
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 1:17 pmLIVERPOOL'S imminent £8m capture of goal-keeper Jose Reina, has spelled the end of the road at Anfield for another big money shot-stopper.
Chris Kirkland has left the Reds to join West Bromwich Albion on a season-long loan.
Rated the brightest young goalkeeper of his generation when he left Coventry for 6 million in 2001, he made just 45 first-team appearances - largely due to some wretched luck with injuries.
Kirkland looked like establishing himself as first choice under Rafael Benitez when he made 10 first team appearances last autumn. But a back injury interrupted his progress, let Jerzy Dudek back in, and he failed to figure again.
Agent Chris Gordon said last night: "Chris feels Albion and the Premiership is the place to be.
"It is an exciting opportunity for him at Albion. They will get a top quality goalkeeper.
"He wants to show that he is fit again and is ready to establish himself in the Premiership and as an England player. The World Cup finals next year are very much in his mind.
"The medical will hold no fears for Chris. He feels fantastic and has real confidence in his back for the first time in ages."
Kirkland came to Liverpool in 2001 in a 6 m switch from Coventry. But the imminent arrival of Jose Reina from Villarreal has effectively rendered him surplus to requirements at Anfield.
Chris Kirkland has left the Reds to join West Bromwich Albion on a season-long loan.
Rated the brightest young goalkeeper of his generation when he left Coventry for 6 million in 2001, he made just 45 first-team appearances - largely due to some wretched luck with injuries.
Kirkland looked like establishing himself as first choice under Rafael Benitez when he made 10 first team appearances last autumn. But a back injury interrupted his progress, let Jerzy Dudek back in, and he failed to figure again.
Agent Chris Gordon said last night: "Chris feels Albion and the Premiership is the place to be.
"It is an exciting opportunity for him at Albion. They will get a top quality goalkeeper.
"He wants to show that he is fit again and is ready to establish himself in the Premiership and as an England player. The World Cup finals next year are very much in his mind.
"The medical will hold no fears for Chris. He feels fantastic and has real confidence in his back for the first time in ages."
Kirkland came to Liverpool in 2001 in a 6 m switch from Coventry. But the imminent arrival of Jose Reina from Villarreal has effectively rendered him surplus to requirements at Anfield.