Liverpool have confirmed on their official website that Adrian has joined the Merseyside club on a free transfer after being released by West Ham United earlier this summer. The Reds have brought in the Spanish keeper as a replacement for Simon Mignolet, who ended his six-year spell at Anfield following his move to Club Brugge yesterday (via liverpoolfc.com).
Adrian’s Long Journey To The Top Of English Football
Adrian came through the youth ranks of Real Betis before breaking out as a first-team starter back in 2012. He decided to make a switch to West Ham United in the summer of 2013. The Sevilla-born goalie went on to play in 150 matches for the East London outfit, conceding 215 goals while keeping 43 clean sheets across all competitions.
The 32-year-old only managed to make a handful of appearances for the Hammers last season as he lost his first-team privileges to Łukasz Fabiański who arrived from Swansea City last summer. He made five appearances for the London outfit last season, conceding eight goals while grabbing two assists on all fronts.
Adrian has a wealth of experience in English football, so he will be a solid presence between the sticks for Liverpool. The Spaniard would be an ideal back-up for Alisson Becker who enjoyed the best season of his playing career in the previous term.
What Will The Spanish Goalie Add To Klopp’s Team?
Adrian won’t complain when asked to sit on Jurgen Klopp’s bench but will undeniably get a few starts in the domestic cup competitions. Liverpool have found it challenging to perform well in the FA Cup and the League Cup in recent years especially after the appointment of Klopp as the club’s new manager back in 2015.
Thus, the Spanish goalie’s addition will not only improve the overall depth of the Reds squad but could also help them compete on all fronts in the coming years. The Merseyside giants need to build on their UEFA Champions League triumph from last season by securing some silverware during the 2019-20 campaign. Adrian has fast reflexes, which enable him to make some decent stops at the back. The Spanish shot-stopper can also dive quickly on either side to pull off a few world-class saves for his team.
Will Adrian Be An Ideal Replacement For Mignolet?
However, the former West Ham keeper is not the most accurate distributor of the ball and can sometimes be caught in no man’s land when he is trying to act a sweeper while the opposition are on the attack. All in all, Adrian will be a perfect replacement for Mignolet as he won’t make as many errors at the back as his Belgian predecessor.
