He said: “Leaving is very difficult because from day one I have felt at home here. I have had good relationships with the club, with the staff and all the players who have been here over the last 10 years. It’s difficult to leave but my reasons are all professional. I still want to play football.

“Ten years is a long time to spend at one club. My family are settled here and I know it will be stressful moving with them into a new house in a new country. But the professional side drove this decision. It’s a new challenge and I will give it everything to be successful in Germany.”

Benitez has described Hyypia as “the perfect professional”, and Hyypia added: “He (Benitez) wished me good luck.

“We had a number of discussions and the possibility of a coaching role was mentioned but I don’t feel ready for that yet. I feel I still have a few more years in my legs to play football.

“We have had a lot of ups and downs during my time here but I have so many great memories and Liverpool will be my English club forever. Obviously, I’ll miss the fans a lot and I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to them all.

“They still sing my name when I’m warming up or playing and that’s always good to hear. It’s sad to be leaving but I’ll be back one day to watch some games and maybe see them all again.

“Coaching is something which has always been in my mind but I have to take my badges first. At the end of my playing career I will look to take the badges and then see. I would like to come back here one day as a coach.”