Former Liverpool loanee Victor Moses is back in English football after signing for Luton Town on a free transfer. The Nigeria international left Spartak Moscow at the end of his contract this summer, but has had to wait until 11 days after the transfer window closed to get his future resolved.
The 33-year-old made 22 appearances for the Reds when he signed on loan from Chelsea in the 2013/14 season, scoring two goals.
But he soon fell out of favour under manager Brendan Rodgers before returning to Stamford Bridge.
Moses’ switch to Kenilworth Road sees him become the latest former Liverpool player to remove himself from the free agent market, following in the footsteps of Sheyi Ojo who signed for Slovenian side Maribor last week.
But there are still a number of recognisable names to those of a Reds persuasion who remain on the lookout for a new club despite the transfer window now being shut.
Joel Matip is the most obvious, having left Liverpool at the end of his contract this summer. A Reds legend, he won every major honour with the club during his eight years at Anfield, making 201 appearances and scoring 11 goals, only to spend his final half-season on the sidelines after injuring his ACL last December.
Former Liverpool quartet Loris Karius, Rafael Camacho, Ovie Ejaria and Danny Wilson all remain out of contract too, as does former Reds striker Mario Balotelli. But given the way the latter’s career has gone since moving to Anfield in the summer of 2014, it is hardly a surprise he is again on the lookout for a new club.
Since joining AC Milan from Manchester City in January 2013, Balotelli has completed nine different transfers over the past 11 years. Playing for eight clubs over the same timespan, courtesy of two stints at both the San Siro and with Turkish outfit Adana Demirspor, the 34-year-old is now searching for an 11th transfer in 11 years and ninth different club over the past decade.
Balotelli returned to Adana Demirspor last September, signing a one-year contract with an option for a further year after his contract with Sion had been terminated. But he was released at the end of last season after returning seven goals and an assist from 16 appearances.
The Italian missed three months of the season after undergoing knee surgery, while he also sat out the last two games of the campaign after being sent off for violent conduct after 39 minutes in what proved to be his final appearance for the Turkish club. He was dismissed following a VAR review after the cameras picked up him hitting a defender in the face off the ball.
He had only left Adana Demirspor the year before his return, having found himself forced out following an explosive on-pitch row with manager Vincenzo Montella which led to his £2m transfer to Sion.
The Swiss outfit had billed the much-travelled striker as their biggest ever signing. But they quickly lost patience after just one season and forced him out last summer.
Balotelli scored just six times for Sion as they were relegated from the Swiss Super League. And despite having a year left on his current deal, the club’s sporting director Barth Constantin, who has previously fallen out with the Italy international, had vowed to find a ‘solution to the problem’ after Balotelli was banished from first team training.
