Allen: It's Hard To Leave A Club I Love

Joe Allen revealed that it was hard for him to leave a club that he 'loves' - after completing a £15m move to Liverpool.

The move has been expected for at least a week, if not more, as speculation about his Swansea City future has continued to grow.

Brendan Rodgers showed respect to Swansea City when he left for Liverpool earlier this Summer, or at least we thought he did, when he made an agreement not to buy any of the club's players in the first 12 months. However, that hasn't stopped him from activating a clause in his contract whereby Swansea City have to allow the player to join a club that bids £15m or more.

Allen thanks the fans and the club for their support, but he now looks forward to a new challenge that he 'had to take'.

"Having come through the ranks and been part of the Swansea City for so long I have built up a massive attachment to the club and the fans,``

"I`ve really enjoyed my time at the club and will always be eternally grateful to the fans for the support they`ve shown me over the years.

"I`ve always been ambitious and while it is hard to leave a club I love, this is a fantastic challenge for me that I had to take. Having been with the club for so long, it`s a fresh and new challenge; a new chapter I needed to get started.

"I wouldn`t have changed my time at the club for the world and I`m proud to have been part of something that has been so exciting over the last few years. The club has been moving in the right direction and I`m sure it will continue to do so without me.

"I`m going to miss a lot of friends and family in Swansea, but I would like to wish the staff, players and supporters the very best for the future.``

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