ADAM LALLANA will leave Brighton and Hove Albion at the end of the season.
The midfielder will become a free agent once his contract at the Amex expires.
Lallana, 36, has been at the Seagulls for four years following his switch from Liverpool in 2020.
The former England star admitted that it is the “right time” and revealed that manager Roberto De Zerbi wanted to keep him.
He said: “It was a tough decision, but it just feels like the right time, not just for myself but for the club as well.
“I’ve been in talks with Roberto for the past couple of months and he expressed his wish for me to stay and keep playing.
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“However, after taking a little time to think about where the football club is at, and having been away from my family for the last four years, I just feel it’s the right time.
“I’ve been speaking with my family throughout the year and the biggest influence on my decision was my kids, who need me around a bit more at the age they’re at.
“I feel it’s time in my life and in my career to put them first.
“Last week I told Roberto, the club and my teammates, who are extremely important to me.
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“Now I just want to enjoy my last week, get a couple of really positive results, and finish the season on a high.”
Lallana is aiming for a positive end to the season as Brighton face Chelsea and Manchester United.
Lallana started his career at Southampton and helped the club reach the Premier League with back-to-back promotions from League One.
He went on to join Liverpool and was a part of the squad that won the Champions League and Premier League titles.
Since moving to Brighton, he has made 105 appearances for the club, scoring three goals.
De Zerbi has insisted that Lallana’s exit will be a “big loss” for the club.
He added: “We are losing a great man and great player. It has been his decision and we have to respect that.
“He has been a key player for me in my time here. At the beginning, Adam Lallana, Adam Webster, Pascal Gross, they followed me from the first day, and he will be a big loss for us.
“He is very smart, he loves football, he loves playing football.
“He understands the game as a player and as a coach, but I think he could play another season in the Premier League for sure.”
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Lallana had become a key member in the Brighton squad during his time at the club.
He was given a temporary coaching role after former manager Graham Potter was hired by Chelsea.
West Ham have worst stadium in Premier League
By Andy Dillon
All that has been achieved under David Moyes has made West Ham forget that they have by far the worst home ground in the entire Prem.
A stadium totally unfit for staging regular football matches.
One that can work on big European nights when the fans have electrified their voices in the nearby Carpenters Arms before kick-off.
But one which drains your soul during routine home games against the likes of Burnley or Everton.
A home ground where giant trampolines separate fans from the action.
With temporary seating and scaffolding trying to bring the players and crowd closer.
When West Ham are playing badly but winning, issues with the rented stadium are pushed aside.
If they are playing badly and losing, the whole festering sore surfaces and the frustration will be aimed once more at chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady.
It wasn’t long ago that fans were invading the pitch, that 8,000 protested against the owners, that Sullivan was hit in the eye by a coin thrown from the crowd. Moyes has been an effective human shield with his consistent, if not entirely pretty, brand of success.
This is what incoming boss Lopetegui has to contend with.
Read Andy Dillon’s full column here.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
