Liverpool’s backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is poised to leave Anfield for Brentford in a transfer deal worth up to £18 million, marking the end of his decade-long tenure with the Premier League champions. The 26-year-old Republic of Ireland international, who has spent his career as understudy to Alisson Becker, is expected to undergo a medical with Brentford on Monday, June 2, 2025, as he seeks regular first-team football. The move comes as Brentford prepare to lose their current number one, Mark Flekken, to Bayer Leverkusen for a reported £9 million, creating an opportunity for Kelleher to step into the starting role at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Kelleher, who joined Liverpool from Ringmahon Rangers in 2015, has made 67 appearances for the Reds, including 20 in the 2024-25 season, where he kept nine clean sheets. His standout performances include heroics in Liverpool’s 2022 and 2024 Carabao Cup final victories over Chelsea, notably scoring a penalty in the dramatic 11-10 shootout in 2022. Despite his reliability, Kelleher has been unable to displace Alisson, widely regarded as one of the world’s best goalkeepers. With Liverpool securing Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili for £29 million last summer, set to join the squad in July, Kelleher’s path to regular minutes at Anfield has been further blocked, prompting his desire for a new challenge.
The transfer agreement with Brentford includes an initial fee of £12.5 million, with an additional £5.5 million in performance-related add-ons, according to multiple reports. Brentford, who previously signed Liverpool’s Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho last summer, have long admired Kelleher’s shot-stopping ability and composure, qualities that align with their need for a reliable replacement for Flekken. The Dutch goalkeeper’s imminent move to Leverkusen, where he will work under former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, has accelerated Brentford’s pursuit of Kelleher, who also attracted interest from West Ham, Leeds, and Bournemouth.
Kelleher has been vocal about his ambition to be a first-choice goalkeeper, stating after Liverpool’s Premier League title celebrations on May 25, 2025, “I feel like I’m a number one and I’m good enough to play week in, week out.” His performances this season, including three clean sheets in the UEFA Champions League against RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, and Real Madrid, have underscored his readiness for a starting role. Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has also publicly supported Kelleher’s quest for regular minutes, emphasizing the importance of consistent play for the 22-cap international.
Liverpool’s decision to let Kelleher go reflects their confidence in Mamardashvili, who has expressed his intent to compete with Alisson and establish himself as the club’s long-term goalkeeper. For Brentford, the acquisition of Kelleher represents shrewd business, replacing the 31-year-old Flekken with a younger, proven talent who finished second only to Flekken in passes attempted per 90 minutes among Premier League goalkeepers last season. With Brentford’s Nathan Collins, a fellow Irish international, anchoring their defense, Kelleher’s integration into the squad is expected to be seamless.