Liverpool's Borggrafe joins Leverkusen on loan
Rafaela Borggrafe joined Liverpool in July
- Published
Liverpool goalkeeper Rafaela Borggrafe has joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan for the rest of the season.
The 25-year-old German joined the Reds from SC Freiburg in July and has made four appearances for Gareth Taylor's side.
Last month, Borggrafe received a six-game ban for using discriminatory language towards a team-mate.
The sanction, which Borggrafe has already served, followed an investigation by the Football Association that began in September.
The incident, believed to involve Borggrafe making an allegedly racist remark, took place during Liverpool's pre-season training camp.
Liverpool are bottom of the Women's Super League, one point adrift of 11th-placed West Ham with eight games remaining.
'A chance to reignite a career that has stalled' - analysis
It's been a difficult campaign for Borggrafe since joining Liverpool in the summer.
The goalkeeper had a six-game ban for using discriminatory language towards a team-mate and has struggled to claim the shirt since, with Jennifer Falk impressing since joining on loan in January.
Falk's arrival drops Borggrafe down the pecking order, while Liverpool still have young goalkeeper Faye Kirby and experienced stopper Rachael Laws in their ranks.
The loan move to Bayer Leverkusen allows Borggrafe a chance to play regular football and reignite a career which has stalled. Her long-term future is uncertain but she has at least another year on her contract at Liverpool.
It will mean Liverpool have work to do in the goalkeeping department in the summer with Laws' contract coming to an end, and Falk's loan agreement running out.
It is understood Liverpool are very keen to sign Falk on a permanent deal and there are various options in her loan contract that means they can explore that in the summer - but it will be the player's decision.
