Profile

Fabio Henrique Tavares, more commonly known as Fabinho, began his youth career with Fluminense in his native Brazil. Despite not making a single appearance in the first team, he moved on to Primeira Liga side Rio Ave, who then immediately loaned him out to Real Madrid Castilla.

After one season with the renowned Real B team, featuring one appearance for Real themselves, he was again loaned out, this time to French side Monaco. After two successful year-long loan spells in the south of France, Fabinho finally confirmed a permanent move in the summer of 2015. Still only 21, he signed a five-year deal with the Monegasques.

In five seasons with Monaco, the Brazilian international – he has won four caps, although missed out on the squad that went to the World Cup this summer – made 225 appearances and scored 29 goals. That represents a decent return from a player who arrived at the club as a right-back; his conversion into a defensive central midfielder by head coach Leonardo Jardim came about after the sale of Geoffrey Kondogbia to Inter Milan. Now 24, he is a versatile operator who brings strength and no little potential to Anfield, where he will be hoping to add to the sole piece of silverware – the 2016/17 Ligue 1 title – he won with Monaco.