Dirk Kuyt signs for Fenerbahce after six years with Liverpool

Published on 04/06/2012 00:00

Dirk Kuyt says the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool manager had nothing to do with his decision to join Fenerbahce.

The Turkish side yesterday announced the signing of the Holland striker on a three-year contract, ending his six-year spell on Merseyside.

The 31-year-old found first-team starts limited under Kenny Dalglish last season, and even the Scot’s departure, and the arrival of Rodgers as his replacement on Friday, could not stop him leaving.

“After six years I am ready for a new challenge,” Kuyt said on the website of his management, www.sport-promotion.nl. “(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.”

Kuyt, who had a year to run on his Anfield contract, had been expected to leave Merseyside this summer after a season in which he scored just two Premier League goals and the club finished a dismal eighth in the table.

He was strongly linked with Hamburg and a return to former club Feyenoord, although he ruled out the latter, saying they would not be able to afford his wages. Kuyt has opted for a move to Istanbul, though, possibly attracted by the prospect of Champions League football next season. Fenerbahce will enter the preliminary rounds of the competition after finishing runners-up to Galatasaray in the Super Lig.

Kuyt is currently preparing for Euro 2012 with Holland and a delegation from the Turkish club travelled to Amsterdam to seal the deal.

The striker said on the club’s official website: “It’s a very happy and proud moment. I am very happy to be part of such a big club.”

Kuyt leaves Liverpool having won just one trophy in six seasons on Merseyside, the Carling Cup last season, when he scored in the penalty shoot-out win over Cardiff.

The Dutchman scored 71 goals in 285 games for the Reds. He was never as prolific at Anfield as he was during his time in his homeland, although he was often played out wide.

Liverpool said in a statement on their website: “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.”

Meanwhile, Rodgers could snatch midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson away from his former club Swansea. Sigurdsson is yet to sign a contract with the Swans despite agreement on a club-record £6.8million deal to sign him permanently from Hoffenheim following a successful loan spell.

Rodgers had pushed the Welsh club to sign Sigurdsson, who he also worked with at Reading, but the Northern Irishman’s move to Anfield could prompt a rethink by the player.

Rodgers has vowed to let Sigurdsson talk to the new Swansea manager first – after agreeing with chairman Huw Jenkins not to poach any of his former players for 12 months – but said over the weekend that he would make a move for the Iceland international should any talks break down.