Hyypia set to leave Liverpool

London - Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia will join Bayer Leverkusen on a two-year deal at the end of the season.

The 35-year-old Finland center back, who has been at Anfield for 10 years and helped Liverpool win the 2005 Champions League, has lost his place alongside Jamie Carragher since the arrival of Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.

Liverpool said Hyppia underwent a medical with the German club on Monday.

The 1.93-meter Hyppia joined in May 1999 from Dutch club Willem II and became a big favorite with Reds fans after forming a dependable partnership with Stephane Henchoz, helping the team win the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup in the 2000-01 season.

He was made Liverpool captain before the arrival of Steven Gerrard in 2003 and played every minute of 57 consecutive European competition games for the Reds between November 2001 and February 2006.

Hyppia has scored 35 goals in 463 appearances for the Reds, including one in 12 starts this season.