5 things you may not know about Liverpool signing Aly Cissokho

5 things you may not know about Liverpool signing Aly Cissokho

Published on August 22nd, 2013

Written by: Luke Greenwood

It may not have been the signing Liverpool fans were hoping for, but the club announced at the start of the week that French full back Aly Cissokho has joined the club on a season long loan from Valencia.
The 25-year-old has become Liverpool's fifth summer signing, and has ended Brendan Rodgers' long search for a left back to provide cover for Spaniard Jose Enrique.
Liverpool fans became excited upon hearing the news the club had scheduled a medical for Monday morning, with many hoping it would signal the arrival of Brazilian winger Willian.
However as the week has unfolded, it appears Tottenham have once more beaten the Reds to a major summer signing, and Rodgers' search for a marquee figure this summer looks set to continue.
The hype over Willian has meant the Cissokho signing has gone slightly under the radar, but the Frenchman could prove a shrewd piece of business.
The full back is highly experienced, and has featured for several top clubs across the continent, and has amassed a total of almost £20 million in transfer fees over the course of his career.
With that in mind, we have a look at five things you may not know about Liverpool's latest summer signing.

He has made one senior international appearance for France

The much travelled full back has represented his country on one occasion.
Cissokho was handed his debut in a friendly against Norway in August 2010, despite making the squad several times under Raymond Domenech but never featuring.

He has vast Champions League experience

Cissokho has featured in the Champions League on several occasions for several different clubs.
He has featured for Porto, in which he came up against Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009, as well as being a prominent feature of the Lyon and Valencia sides that featured in Europe’s top club competition.
No doubt he will be hoping Liverpool become the fourth club he has represented at Champions League level in the near future.

Valencia spell has proved a testing experience

There were high hopes for Cissokho when he completed his move to Valencia only last summer.
He had been in the form of his career at Lyon, and was expected to make an impact in Spain.
However the Frenchman’s form took a dip last season, as he managed 25 league appearances.
The 25-year-old will be hoping to rediscover his form at Anfield after a testing time in Spain.

He has featured against Liverpool before

Cissokho has played against Liverpool on two occasions in the past.
The full back was representing Lyon during their clashes with Rafael Benitez’s side in the 2009 Champions League group phase.
He was part of the side that scored a late equaliser to dent Liverpool’s hopes of qualification, as well as helping Lyon to a 2-1 victory at Anfield.

He’s joined on loan with a view to a permanent deal

Cissokho has joined the Reds on a season long loan with a view to a permanent transfer at the end of the season.
Liverpool are set to pay €1million for his loan spell, and a further £4 million at the end of the season if they opt to keep him at Anfield.
Cissokho is the Reds’ fifth major signing of the summer, after Kolo Toure, Simon Mignolet, Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas.