Liverpool are without goalkeeper Alisson for their pre-season match in Japan against Yokohama F. Marinos.

Reds boss Arne Slot told the club website: "He had to go back to Brazil for private reasons.

"That's far from ideal – first of all for the private reasons, second of all for him to not be there in a game like this and in pre-season it's also not ideal if you miss out on part of the pre-season.

"But again, private life is more important in these matters than joining a game today."

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Luis Diaz signed for Bayern Munich this morning and has become the fourth Premier League star in the German champions' squad.

Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Joao Palhinha are the other three players already in the ranks at Bayern.

Diaz signed for 75m euros (£65.5m) including add-ons, while Harry Kane signed from Tottenham in August 2023 for an initial 100m euros (£86.4m) plus add-ons.

Olise made the move in July 2024 from Crystal Palace for £50m (60m euros) with Palhinha signing the same month at Olise from Fulham for £42.3m, plus £4.2m in add-ons.

Those four are the ones who directly signed from English top-flight clubs but stars like Serge Gnabry began their careers in the Premier League with the German previously playing for Arsenal.

There have also been other players who have signed for Bayern from the Premier League but have since moved on, for example Leroy Sane and Sadio Mane.

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Hugo Ekitike completed a move from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69m earlier this month, could he be the player to replace Luis Diaz? The Colombia international has left Liverpool to join Bayern Munich and has left a spot on the left wing in Arne Slot's team.

Well the short answer is yes but he is not as experienced as Diaz. Ekitike has played just nine games (two starts and 324 minutes total) as a left-winger, although he has often tended to drift out to that side, most notably throughout 2023-24.

More importantly, the way Slot has used Cody Gapko and Diaz - as one-on-one dribblers, using their acceleration to cut inside full-backs - corresponds with Ekitike's best qualities.

In the Bundesliga last season Ekitike came fifth for attempted dribbles (126) and for shot-ending carries (44). He also provided eight assists and ranked fifth (again) for 'attacking sequence' involvements.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool, minus Luis Diaz, are in pre-season action later on this morning as they face Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan.

Kick-off for that one is at 11:30 BST and we will have updates in this page throughout the morning and early afternoon.

Arne Slot has just named his starting line-up, with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili getting a chance to impress, while striker Hugo Ekitike makes his debut after his move from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial fee of £69m in a deal that could rise to £79m.

Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili, Kerkez, Van Dijk, Konate, Bradley, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike.

Subs: Woodman, Pesci, Tsimikas, Robertson, Frimpong, Endo, Mac Allister, Ngumoha, Morton, Stephenson, Nyoni, Jones, Elliott, Nunez.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Granit Xhaka provides the one thing the Black Cats sorely lack: Premier League experience.

Just six members of their current squad have played in the English top flight before, with the only players to have started in the competition being winger Simon Adingra, who arrived from Brighton this month, and back-up goalkeeper Simon Moore.

Adingra, Moore, Ian Poveda, Patrick Roberts, Leo Hjelde and Niall Huggins boast a combined total of just 85 appearances. Those figures are dwarfed by Xhaka, who has played in 225 Premier League games.

He has also won a record 137 caps for Switzerland, wearing the captain's armband since 2020.

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Granit Xhaka has confirmed his moved to Sunderland but where else has he played?

He started his senior career at FC Basel after coming through their academy. He played for the senior team from 2010-2012 before moving to Borussia Monchengladbach from 2012-2016.

The midfielder then signed for Arsenal, who he played for from 2016-2023. He won two FA Cups, two Community Shields and was runner-up in the Europa League with the Gunners.

Xhaka then moved to Bayer Leverkusen, where he was a part of their historic run to the Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 season.

Internationally he play for Switzerland and won his first cap in 2011. Since then he has accumulated 137 and represented his country at six major tournaments, most recently captaining the team at Euro 2024.

Sunderland

Sunderland boss Regis le Bris on the signing of Granit Xhaka: “First of all, it’s a massive statement about the attractiveness of the club. If a player of that dimension says yes to our project, it means something.

“I have to congratulate the people behind the scenes for completing the move. It makes a big noise and that is something we are looking to do this season.

“For the squad, it’s really important. We started our recruitment with talented young players but the second layer is to balance the squad with more experience. With what he has achieved in the game, Granit is really good for that. It’s really clear what he will bring to the squad. At the same time, his level his high.

“He brings many things for the balance of the squad. He’s a captain, a leader, has strong experience in the Premier League and the national team. This piece in our structure will be really important to balance the squad. We’re really happy.

“He’s still at top with a specific style of play so it’s really important to feel these pillars in our structure because it gives confidence to everyone for the Premier League.”

Sunderland

New Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka: "I’m very proud to be here. When I spoke to the club, I was excited and I felt the energy, and the mentality all the people and players have.

"It’s exactly what I wanted, and I have a very good feeling. We are back to where this club needs to be, and we want to stay here to write our own history.

"I feel I’m ready to help the team with my experience but with quality as well. We need to find ourselves on the pitch, but I don’t think this will be a big problem. It’s been a long time to wait, but I’m here now and I’m looking forward to it.”

Sunderland have confirmed the signing of former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

Switzerland midfielder Xhaka, 32, joins for an undisclosed fee and has signed a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light.

Image source, Getty Images

In terms of filling the void Diaz leaves on the left flank, Cody Gakpo appears the obvious beneficiary. The Dutchman scored 18 times last season though he isn’t quite as effective at dribbling through congested spaces.

Rio Ngumoha, who turns 17 in August, started this month’s friendlies against Preston, Stoke and AC Milan and could eventually benefit from Diaz’s departure, though the youngster has only made one competitive appearance to date.

Another new signing, Hugo Ekitike, might also be deployed on the left on occasions. The Frenchman is more likely to play up front but could also slot in elsewhere as part of a fluid forward line – something that may be necessary if Liverpool manage to prize Alexander Isak away from Newcastle.

Jordan Chamberlain
Liverpool fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich is a strange move in many regards.

Firstly, it is not often Liverpool sell players who get into the strongest XI out of choice. Yes, Trent Alexander-Arnold moved to Real Madrid on a free when his contract expired this summer, but the last time the Reds chose to sell a contracted player who would still have started the following season was Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona back in 2018.

In both cases, the players forced their exits.

Diaz was Liverpool's second best attacker last term behind Mohamed Salah. He scored 17 goals in total from the left wing, a phenomenal total, especially given 13 of those helped the Reds win the Premier League.

Right now, Liverpool will be weaker without him. Diaz is better than Cody Gakpo, and new signing Florian Wirtz wants to play at number 10, where he has so far been used in the pre-season friendlies.

The £65.5m fee is probably about right. It sounds a lot for a 28-year-old, but this is a market where Joao Felix has just gone for over £40m and one where Saudi sides were willing to pay £100m for Bruno Fernandes.

The biggest caveat of course is that Diaz's sale will help Liverpool sign Alexander Isak. The Newcastle striker is desperate for the move, but they cannot sell until they get a replacement in.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

In addition to his threat going forward, Diaz is renowned for as a grafter. He has won possession in the final third 70 times in the Premier League, the second most by a Liverpool player since his arrival, and ranks similarly highly for duels won despite his relatively slight 5ft 10in frame.

When used centrally last term, his high-energy pressing helped set the tempo for the Reds. But next season that role could be filled by club record signing Florian Wirtz, who – for all his attacking flair – works like a demon off the ball.

The 22-year-old German won possession in the final third 71 times in the past two Bundesliga seasons, at least 15 more than any other player.

If you are just joining us, you have missed some big news this morning. Luis Diaz has moved to Bayern Munich from Liverpool in a deal worth 75m euros (£65.5m) including add-ons.

Elsewhere, we have been taking a look at James Trafford joining Manchester City from Burnley and had a peak at what the papers are saying.

Coming up, we will delve more into Diaz's and Trafford's moves, and bring you any more confirmed deals.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Luis Diaz leaves Liverpool after the most prolific season of his career, having scored 17 times in 2024-25.

Since his debut in January 2022, Diaz has combined consistent dribbling ability with steadily increasing goal threat. During his time at the club he leads the Reds in terms of dribbles completed and fouls won, while ranking second for goals, goal involvements and touches in the opposition box.

It is no accident that his shot conversion rate last term – 19% in all competitions – was comfortably his highest in a Liverpool shirt. The winger made 39% of his league appearances as a false nine, meaning he was able to shoot from central areas more often.

Head coach Arne Slot trialled Diaz in that role against Bayer Leverkusen in November, when the Colombian scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 win, and it was a ploy the Merseysiders used to good effect in December and January.

Image source, BBC Sport

Luis Diaz has just posted on Instagram with a message to the Liverpool fans., external He writes: "Three years and a half that I’ll treasure forever. I arrived with all the dreams in the world, and I am leaving proud of everything we achieved together.

"I have met incredible people, fabulous colleagues, coaches who helped me a lot, and extraordinary fans. Liverpool is, indeed, a special team, and I will keep everyone in my heart. The cycle ends here, and it is so gratifying to look back and realize how happy we were.

"Not only because of the trophies we won, but for the union and friendship that made it all possible. There were ups and downs, as there always are, but there was always truth. As it should be in a family. It’s good to be leaving with the feeling of a duty fulfilled, and, most of all, to be leaving a champion. It would have been the perfect goodbye if we hadn’t lost one of ours in such a tragic way.

"As I said, and I repeat, I carry everyone with me in my heart, but one of them in particular: Diogo. I will never forget him. We will never forget him. Thank you for everything. YNWA."