Lyon complete signing of Xherdan Shaqiri from Liverpool

Switzerland winger moves to Ligue 1 side on three-year contract

Xherdan Shaqiri will be moving from Liverpool to Lyon. Reuters

Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri has signed a three-year contract with Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais, the two clubs announced on Monday.

Shaqiri, 29, is moving for an initial fee of €6 million ($7.04m), rising to a potential total of €11m with bonuses, Lyon said. His contract runs until 2024.

Capped 96 times by Switzerland, Shaqiri played for Basel, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan before moving to England in 2015 when he signed for Stoke City.

Shaqiri then joined Liverpool from Stoke City in 2018, making 63 appearances in all competitions for Jurgen Klopp's side, winning the Premier League, Champions League, Club World Cup and Super Cup in his time at Anfield.

However, the Swiss forward was relegated to the bench in recent seasons, with injuries and stiff competition for spots at Liverpool limiting his game time. He made 22 Premier League appearances during Liverpool's title-winning 2019-20 campaign, but featured in only 14 top-flight matches last season and has not appeared for Klopp's side since a 2-1 win at West Brom in May.

"Shaqiri completes a midfield which is already experienced, and features several senior internationals... his arrival confirms that Olympique Lyonnais is giving itself the means... to have a great season in Ligue 1 and in the Europa League," Lyon said in a statement.

"Everybody at Liverpool FC thanks Xherdan for his contributions over the past three seasons and wishes him the very best for the rest of his career," said a club statement.

He is the second player to move to Lyon from the Premier League in recent days after Emerson Palmieri signed on loan from Chelsea.

Lyon, who have two points from their opening three games in Ligue 1, travel to Nantes on Saturday.