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LoginFinnan: Anfield Exit 'Out Of The Blue'
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Espanyol have signed Liverpool full-back Steve Finnan on a two-year contract, the Spanish Primera Liga club have announced.
The 32-year-old Republic of Ireland international, who has spent the last five seasons at Liverpool, will help provide defensive cover at Espanyol following the recent departure of right-back Pablo Zabaleta to Manchester City.
Finnan will be on international duty for the next week or so but Espanyol hope he will be available to make his debut for Bartolome Marquez's side in the home match against Getafe on September 21.
The Barcelona-based club announced the news on their website, saying: "Liverpool have transferred Steve Finnan to Espanyol. The Ireland international has committed himself for two seasons.
"Finnan is with the Republic of Ireland to play on Saturday against Georgia and on the following Wednesday against Montenegro.
"The defender will then go to Liverpool afterwards to collect all his things and will move to Barcelona between the 14th and 15th (September) and as such will be available to Marquez ahead of the third game of the season."
No fee was mentioned for the former Fulham, Notts County and Birmingham defender.
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Reds send Voronin to Berlin
Liverpool striker Andriy Voronin has agreed a one-year loan deal with German side Hertha Berlin, the Anfield club have announced.
The 29-year-old Ukraine international signed for Liverpool on a Bosman free transfer last summer and scored six goals in 27 appearances.
However, the impact of Fernando Torres restricted his first-team opportunities and Robbie Keane's arrival this summer forced him further down the pecking order, prompting the forward to move back to the Bundesliga, where he previously played for Bayer Leverkusen, Cologne, Mainz and Borussia Monchengladbach.
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Finnan: Anfield Exit 'Out Of The Blue'
Republic Of Ireland defender Steve Finnan has admitted that his transfer from Liverpool to Espanyol took him by surprise.
One of the more eye-catching transfers of this season's deadline day saw Irish international Steve Finnan join La Liga stalwarts Espanyol on a two-year deal.
The name of Finnan was added to the transfer that saw Albert Riera move in the opposite direction, after Finnan lost his place in the Liverpool first team.
The 32-year-old had not featured for Liverpool in any competition this season prior to his move, with Rafa Benitez freezing him out of regular action.
Finnan insists that he didn't agitate for a move away from the English giants, and that his first choice was to remain at the club.
The right-back is currently in Germany preparing for Ireland's World Cup qualifier in Montenegro this coming Wednesday and will link-up with his Espanyol team-mates upon his return from international duty.
He spoke to the Liverpool Post, and said: "It [Liverpool exit] was totally out of the blue. It's exciting to be going to a great club in Spain but I didn't want to leave. But it was obvious that I wasn't going to get a game by staying so I didn't really have much choice."
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Unless Liverpool find another sugar daddy, Ah Ben will have to re-build his squad every season.
It is like pressing reset button for the past four seasons.
We are selling reliable players and buying players of unknown quality.
Even if the new players are good, they would need time to blend in to the unstable playing system of Ah Ben.
Even with ex-EPL players, they are unable to blend in at the moment.
The way things are going is not constructive for the existing players as they have to change and adapt to the new players.
That is why the team is unbearable to watch at the moment.
I have a feeling that Stevie is very disappointed with Ah Ben and will be leaving Liverpool soon if there is no hope of getting the EPL title.
That is also why Ah Ben is so eager to bring Barry in so that he can dispose of Stevie.
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