Jarell Quansah has completed a move from Liverpool to Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £35m.
Sky Sports News understands the fee is an initial £30m guaranteed plus £5m in easily-achievable add-ons.
Liverpool are understood to have secured a buy-back clause in the deal for a pre-agreed fee.
Quansah made 25 appearances in all competitions for the Reds last season, helping them win the Premier League having made his senior debut under Jurgen Klopp in 2023.
In total he made 53 senior appearances for Liverpool, scoring three goals and also winning the Carabao Cup in 2023/24.
He makes his move to Bayer Leverkusen, now managed by former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, having played a key role in England's U21 European Championship success in Slovakia.
He has signed a five-year contract and the deal represents the third between Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen this summer, with Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong having moved in the opposite direction.
A statement on Liverpool's official website read: "Everybody at LFC would like to thank Jarell for his contributions and wish him the very best for the future."
Why have Liverpool sold Quansah?
The deal to sell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen is considered "best of all worlds" at Anfield.
The Reds did not see Quansah playing regularly next season and, at his age - and given he did so well at the U21 Euros for England - he needs to play regularly.
A move to Leverkusen gives him valuable experience and a chance to develop his considerable skill set. It also gives Leverkusen a centre-back who has the potential to make a significant impact on the Bundesliga.
And, by way of the buy-back clause, it affords Liverpool the security of knowing they retain an option on the future of a player they still rate highly.
What about a replacement?
Liverpool continue to be linked with centre-backs and the club are aware that will be the case given they have sold Quansah, wanted to sign Dean Huijsen, and that Ibrahima Konate is entering the last year of his deal.
The club plan to follow clearly laid out strategies rather than being attracted to any particular name on the market, and that is plan includes a preferred profile for that particular position.
Sky Sports News has already reported that they want a young profile to develop to replace Quansah.
Given recent spending, they also have a limited budget, particularly for a position in which they already have proven quality and strength in depth.
That being said, Liverpool would only consider deviating from that preferred profile in the event of a significant market opportunity becoming available.
Marc Guehi is a player they have an interest in but his fee is expected to be high. Sky Sports News understands a move for him would be more tied to the situation around Konate, than Quansah.
Guehi wants to be a first-choice player wherever he goes, if he is to leave Crystal Palace this summer. It does not make sense for him to move on to be a back-up, especially in a season that precedes a World Cup.
Liverpool are also well stocked at centre-back even without Quansah - they have Virgil Van Dijk, Konate and Joe Gomez. Manager Arne Slot has also shown a willingness to deploy Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch at centre-back too if need be.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have rejected an approach from Bayern Munich for Luis Diaz.
Max Eberl, Bayern's sporting director, has been told the 28-year-old is not for sale, and discussions have gone no further since.
It is the second time this summer the Reds have rejected interest in the forward, having issued the same message to Barcelona earlier in the window.
Liverpool will not entertain any approaches for the Colombian, who has also been of interest to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr this summer.
Liverpool executives view Diaz as pivotal for the coming seasons.
Diaz was a key part of Liverpool's Premier League title win last season as he scored 13 goals and provided five assists.
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