Liverpool announce first January transfer as significant sell-on clause revealed

The 2002-born shot-stopper came through the Fluminense youth system before joining Liverpool in a €750k (£623k) deal in 2020, quickly becoming a regular for the Reds' Under-21s.

Pitaluga made the bench on a handful of occasions for the first team - most recently their 2-1 Europa League loss to Union SG in December 2023 - but he never made a senior appearance for the Merseyside giants.

The 22-year-old was loaned out three times to Macclesfield Town, St Pat's and Livingston, joining the Scottish side in the summer transfer window, but he only made two appearances for the Lions.

With Alisson Becker, Caoimhin Kelleher and Vitezslav Jaros currently blocking his path to the first team - as well as the imminent arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia - Pitaluga has now returned to Fluminense on a free transfer, although James Pearce of The Athletic claims that the Reds will retain a hefty 40% sell-on clause.

"Goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga has agreed a permanent transfer from Liverpool to former club Fluminense, subject to international clearance," Liverpool said in a statement.

"The Brazilian is set to bid farewell to the Reds after a spell of more than four years, in which he was named in the senior matchday squad on seven occasions. Everyone at LFC wishes Marcelo the best of luck for the future."

Could Liverpool let any other players leave this month?

Pitaluga is the first but possibly not the last out of the Anfield door this month, as Liverpool are still at risk of losing Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk on free transfers at the end of the season.

Offers for Van Dijk and Salah have not been forthcoming, but Real Madrid are now said to have made their first approach for Alexander-Arnold, which was immediately rejected by Liverpool as they try to tie him down to a new deal.

Alexander-Arnold responded to Real Madrid's supposed first bid with a disappointing display in Sunday's 2-2 Premier League draw with Manchester United, albeit one that is not expected to deter Los Blancos from making another move.

Carlo Ancelotti's side will likely be met with the cold shoulder again, but if it becomes clear that Alexander-Arnold will not sign a new contract, it will be intriguing to see whether Liverpool try to recoup a fee this month or allow a player in his prime to leave for free.

The Reds have welcomed a potential Alexander-Arnold successor back to the club this month in Calvin Ramsay, whose loan spell from Wigan Athletic was cut short, but he is expected to be sent elsewhere for another temporary spell away from the club.

Further up the field, out-of-favour attacker Federico Chiesa is being heavily linked with a loan return to Serie A, although his agent has since shot down rumours that he could leave Liverpool this month.

Written by

Ben Knapton