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Former player has announced his retirement from football, aged 36, because of a heart condition. The issue was detected in pre-season testing with the Brazilian defensive midfielder's boyhood club, for whom he re-signed in the summer. Leiva was signed from for £5m by in 2007 and went on to make 346 appearances in 10 seasons at Anfield. "I can only be thankful for the career I built," Leiva said on social media.

He initially struggled to break into the midfield, but became a regular starter after the departures of and .



His tally of 247 appearances for is the fourth-most by a Brazilian in the competition's history. Leiva signed for in 2017 in a £5m deal and went on to win the Coppa Italia with the club.