"Bayer 04 have signed central defender Sami Hyypia from Premier League club Liverpool for the coming season," a Leverkusen statement read.

The 35-year-old Finnish international, who will see his Liverpool contract expire at the end of the season, signed a two-year deal with Bayer.

"The discussions with the management at Bayer 04 went very well. They made me feel that they really wanted to sign me. I’m looking forward to playing for Leverkusen and I hope that we can be successful," he said.

Hyypia went down the pecking order for manager Rafael Benitez, who hardly relied on the ex-Reds skipper's services during the past couple of seasons.

The giant center-half joined Liverpool from Willem II in 1999, winning a Champions League and a UEFA Cup title at Anfield.