Ex-Liverpool misfit Ojo gets new club after seven loan spells in as many years

Sheyi Ojo has finally ended his long stay at Liverpool - despite not playing for them in over five years.

The winger cut ties with the Anfield club after his contract expired last month. The 25-year-old endured a nomadic time on Merseyside, playing just 13 times after his arrival in 2011 as a 14-year-old. The Reds recruited him from Milton Keynes Dons and beat off plenty of competition to secure his signing for a fee in the region of £2million.

But after a promising start in the youth ranks and a flurry of Premier League appearances, his star faded. He was loaned out a whopping seven times through the course of his stay.

His final appearance for the Reds would come in January 2017 in an FA Cup game at Plymouth. Five more loan spells would follow that appearance (he had previously been on short-term loans at Wigan and Wolves ). Last season he spent time at Millwall but injuries restricted him to just 19 outings. Now, he has secured a permanent move to the Championship with Cardiff City.

He has penned a two-year deal with a club he spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan at, making 42 appearances. Speaking to Cardiff's website after his unveiling, Ojo said: "I really enjoyed myself last time I was here, and I've got some unfinished business to do. I'm really looking forward to the season, and I hope we can do some special things.

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"I didn't actually get to see the fans last time I was here, so I'm really looking forward to that. The one thing that was missing last time was the fans, so I'm excited for the first game. I'm excited to train with the boys, and get stuck in. I know a few of the boys already, so I'm really looking forward to it. Off the pitch, I've got some close friends who live here as well, and I really liked being in Cardiff last time I was here."

Last season he showed glimpses of his potential whilst at the Den, but an ankle injury picked up in the New Year saw him sidelined and he would make just two more appearances before the season ended.

That ultimately hampered his chances of winning a deal at Millwall, according to manager Gary Rowett.

"I wish him all the best," Rowett said. "I don't think it's something that we'll be able to pursue. Sheyi's been really unlucky. He came in, had a good impact, got injured and we had to bring other players in. I'm at the point where I have to pick the players that I think are going to have the most impact late in the season. Unfortunately, Sheyi missed out. But he's a good player and I'm sure he'll show that in the next few seasons."

Cardiff, who host Norwich in their opening game of the new season, have made 11 signings this summer as manager Steve Morison carries out a squad revamp.