Bayer Leverkusen signs goalkeeper Flekken from Brentford, which enlists Kelleher as replacement
Netherlands’ goalkeeper Mark Flekken during the line-up prior to the international friendly soccer match between Netherlands and Scotland at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, March 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, file)
LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen’s summer of rebuilding continued Tuesday by bringing goalkeeper Mark Flekken back to the Bundesliga from Brentford.
The Premier League club reacted immediately by announcing the signing of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher from Liverpool as Flekken’s replacement.
The 31-year-old Flekken, a Netherlands international, signed a three-year deal to work under fellow Dutchman Erik ten Hag, the former Manchester United coach who recently replaced Xabi Alonso as Leverkusen coach.
Media reports suggested Leverkusen was paying a fee of at least 10 million euros ($11.4 million) for Flekken, who is expected to take the No. 1 jersey from the 35-year-old Lukas Hradecky after Czech goalkeeper Matěj Kovář failed to convince when given the chance last season.
“Flekken possesses a wide range of skills that a goalkeeper in modern top-flight football needs,” Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said. “He has strong reflexes, good control of the penalty area, and, thanks to his height of 1.95 meters, has tremendous reach.”
Flekken spent two years at Brentford, making 77 appearances for the Premier League club after joining in 2023 from Freiburg, which he had helped to fifth place in the Bundesliga.
“We were expecting Mark to be our goalkeeper for many more years, however when Bayer Leverkusen made it known that they wanted to do this transfer, and Mark made it clear that he was interested in moving closer to home and with a possibility of Champions League football, we turned our attention towards how all parties could make this happen,” Brentford director of football Phil Giles said.
Flekken has the chance to compete for the biggest titles with the 2024 Bundesliga champion.
“To be able to contribute my qualities to a top German club with ambitious national and European goals now makes me very happy,” Flekken said. “I love the Bundesliga and, of course, I’m also looking forward to challenging for the Champions League with the Werkself.”
Flekken’s arrival is just one transfer among many expected over a busy summer at Leverkusen, which is rebuilding following Alonso’s departure for Real Madrid.
Team captain Johnathan Tah’s contract expired before he joined Bayern Munich, and wing-back Jeremie Frimpong switched to Liverpool, with whom Leverkusen is involved in negotiations over star player Florian Wirtz.
Leverkusen signed 21-year-old defender Tim Oermann from relegated Bochum and promptly loaned him to Austrian champion Sturm Graz, while it also snapped up highly rated teenager Ibrahim Maza from second-division club Hertha Berlin. It has also loaned promising midfielder Francis Onyeka to Bochum for next season in the second division.
Less than an hour after Flekken’s signing was confirmed, Brentford announced the arrival of Kelleher on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee. The 26-year-old Kelleher was the No. 2 goalkeeper at Liverpool behind Alisson Becker.
“We have scouted him in the past and were aware that he had a year to go on his contract with Liverpool this summer,” Giles said.
“When Mark Flekken had the opportunity to move to Bayer Leverkusen, we immediately thought about Caoimhín as his replacement.”
Kelleher made 67 appearances for Liverpool across all competitions.
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