LIVERPOOL: Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia will join German side Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season on a two-year deal, the English Premier League club announced on their official website here Monday.

The 35-year-old Finland international arrived at Anfield from Dutch side Willem II for 2.5 million pounds (3.73 million dollars) in 1999 and was a member of the Liverpool side that won three trophies in the 2000/01 season.

He was Liverpool's captain for much of that season in the absence of the injured Jamie Redknapp and briefly held the post before the honour passed to England midfielder Steven Gerrard.

Hyypia also played in the team that won the Champions League in 2005 by beating AC Milan in a dramatic penalty shoot-out final in Istanbul.

However, recently he has had to compete for his place alongside two younger centre-halves in both Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.