Sami Hyypia has agreed a two-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen.

The Finnish defender has been a bedrock of the Liverpool defence since Gerard Houllier took him to Merseyside in a bargain £2.6million transfer from Willem II, the Dutch side, in 1999.

Now 35 years of age, Hyypia was due to be out of contract at Anfield in the summer, although Rafael Benitez offered him the chance to remain at the club in a coaching capacity.

But the player obviously feels he can still play at the top level, and he has agreed a deal with Bundesliga side Leverkusen after passing a medical on Monday.

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