LIVERPOOL forward Dirk Kuyt has ended a six-year spell at Anfield after agreeing a move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
The 31-year-old, who scored 51 times in more than 200 appearances for Liverpool, has signed a three-year contract with the Turkish club for a fee reported to be in the region of £1million. Currently training with the Dutch national squad ahead of the European Championships which start next week, Kuyt had seen himself reduced to an increasingly bit-part role at Liverpool before of Brendan Rodgers' appointment as manager on Friday.
"After six years I am ready for a new challenge," said Kuyt. "(The club and supporters) I will always carry in my heart.
"The appointment of the new coach has nothing to do with it. But when Fenerbahce came to me and made their ambitions known, from the first moment I was sold. They give me the confidence that I lost."
A key member of the first team throughout his time at Anfield, the forward never made fewer than 30 Premier League appearances in any of his six seasons at the the club. However last season, under the leadership of Kenny Dalglish, Kuyt became more of a peripheral figure and was regularly used as a substitute, finding the net just twice in the league all year. Having publicly expressed his frustration over the past six months, a departure from Liverpool this summer had seemed inevitable.
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While his first five seasons at Anfield were trophy-less, he finally got his hands on some silverware last season when the Reds beat Cardiff City in the Carling Cup final.
A statement on the Liverpool website read: “Liverpool Football Club can confirm that Dirk Kuyt has advised the club that he has today reached an agreement with Fenerbahce SK over a move to Turkey, and the transfer is expected to be completed in the next few days.
“Everyone at Liverpool Football Club would like to wish Dirk all the very best for the future and thank him for his contribution to the club.”
Fenerbahce, who have won the Turkish Super Lig a record 18 times, finished second last season behind their great rivals Galatasaray. Fenerbahce board member Ali Yildirim told the Anatolia news agency: “We had been working for this transfer for months ... He is a very important player, a big win for Fenerbahce.”
The move means that Kuyt will hope to once again enjoy Champions League football next season with Fenerbahce entering the competition at the preliminary stage. Liverpool will take part in the Europa League.