Espanyol have signed Liverpool full-back Steve Finnan on a two-year contract, the Spanish Primera Liga club have announced.The 32-year-old Republic of Ireland international, who has spent the last five seasons at Liverpool, will help provide defensive cover at Espanyol following the recent departure of right-back Pablo Zabaleta to Manchester City.

Finnan will be on international duty for the next week or so but Espanyol hope he will be available to make his debut for Bartolome Marquez's side in the home match against Getafe on September 21.

The Barcelona-based club announced the news on their website, saying: "Liverpool have transferred Steve Finnan to Espanyol. The Ireland international has committed himself for two seasons.

"Finnan is with the Republic of Ireland to play on Saturday against Georgia and on the following Wednesday against Montenegro.

"The defender will then go to Liverpool afterwards to collect all his things and will move to Barcelona between the 14th and 15th (September) and as such will be available to Marquez ahead of the third game of the season."

No fee was mentioned for the former Fulham, Notts County and Birmingham defender.

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