Liverpool has confirmed its first permanent transfer of the January window with the departure of goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga.

The 22-year-old, who has never played a competitive match for Liverpool has returned to his native Brazil and rejoined former side Fluminense. Pitaluga left the club in 2020 after signing for Liverpool for a reported fee of just under $2.5 million

But other than seven appearances as an unused substitute, Pitaluga has had no real impact on the first team. The keeper spent the first half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Scottish side Livingston but played just two games for the club in the Scottish Challenge Cup.

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He will now begin preparations for Fluminense’s 2025 season, which begins this weekend against Sampaio Correa.

In a statement confirming the transfer, Liverpool said :“Goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga has agreed a permanent transfer from Liverpool to former club Fluminense, subject to international clearance. The Brazilian is set to bid farewell to the Reds after a spell of more than four years, in which he was named in the senior matchday squad on seven occasions.

“During his time with the club, Pitaluga also represented Macclesfield FC, St Patrick’s Athletic and, most recently, Livingston on loan. He will now return to Fluminense in his home country, the team with whom he began his career before joining Liverpool. Everyone at LFC wishes Marcelo the best of luck for the future.”

Pitaluga’s arrival in 2020 came on the back of a recommendation from Alisson, although his compatriot only ever made appearances for the Under-18s and Under-21s, with 19 appearances for the latter in the 2021/22 campaign.

Pitaluga’s most successful Liverpool loan came at Macclesfield where, under the guidance of sporting director Robbie Savage, the club claimed promotion from the eight tier. However, he struggled at St Patrick’s and lost his place after several high-profile errors, while at Livingston Pitaluga wasn’t handed any first-team opportunities in the league.

His departure leaves Liverpool still with a healthy selection of goalkeepers, with Alisson, Caoimhin Kelleher, Vitezslav Jaros and Harvey Davies available to Arne Slot, alongside the incoming Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will arrive this summer.