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Three years ago, Fabio Borini arrived at Anfield from Roma for £10.5M. Along with Joe Allen, he was one of the early signings Brendan Rodgers targeted as he looked to make an early mark at Liverpool and create his squad. Things didn’t work out as either player or manager would have hoped, and today the player officially moves to Sunderland in an £8M deal.
Liverpool are guaranteed the £8M up front, and it could rise to £10M after add-ons—an unexpectedly rich return for a player who has spent two of his three years since arriving at Anfield on the bench, watching from the stands, or out injured. Sandwiched between was a solid loan spell at Sunderland, after which they tried to purchase Borini outright and whom, a year on, he finally completes a full time move to.
Further reports suggest Borini will earn £60k per week with the Black Cats, which represents a raise on what he was receiving at Anfield and is yet another show of just how rich the Premier League is compared to its European rivals. England may be slipping towards fourth place in the UEFA league coefficients, but even its relegation fodder can pay more than many top clubs in other countries.
All told, Borini made 38 appearances in all competitions during his time at Liverpool, scoring just three goals along the way. While on loan at Sunderland in 2013-14, he made 40 appearances and scored ten times, often being deployed as a winger or wide forward for his pace and work rate. Last summer, Borini blocked a permanent move to Sunderland in the hopes he could break through at Liverpool.
This summer, there has also been interest from Inter Milan, Fiorentina, and West Brom. None were willing to pay as much for him as Sunderland, though, and so he heads to a side that once again look favourites to be in a relegation dogfight this season. Hopefully, after a frustrating time spent on Merseyside, it is a move that can help to rehabilitate a once promising career.
