Rafaela Borggrafe Loans to Bayer Leverkusen Amidst Liverpool Struggles

Rafaela Borggrafe, the goalkeeper for Liverpool, has officially joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 25-year-old German international joined Liverpool from SC Freiburg in July and has made four appearances for the team under coach Gareth Taylor.

Recently, Borggrafe faced a six-game suspension for using discriminatory language towards a teammate. This penalty, which she has already served, resulted from an investigation by the Football Association that began in September. The incident reportedly involved an alleged racist remark made during Liverpool’s pre-season training camp.

Currently, Liverpool is positioned at the bottom of the Women’s Super League, trailing 11th-placed West Ham by one point with eight matches remaining. Borggrafe’s season has been particularly challenging since her arrival at the club.

In light of her suspension and the strong performances of Jennifer Falk, who joined the team on loan in January, Borggrafe has struggled to maintain her position as the first-choice goalkeeper. Falk’s presence further complicates Borggrafe’s opportunities, as Liverpool also retains young goalkeeper Faye Kirby and experienced player Rachael Laws.

The loan to Bayer Leverkusen presents Borggrafe with an opportunity to gain regular playing time and rejuvenate her career, which has faced obstacles in recent months. While her long-term future remains uncertain, she does have at least another year left on her contract with Liverpool.

Looking ahead, Liverpool will need to address their goalkeeping situation during the summer transfer window, as Laws’ contract is set to expire and Falk’s loan agreement will conclude. The club is reportedly eager to secure Falk on a permanent basis, with various options within her loan contract allowing them to pursue this possibility. Ultimately, however, the decision will rest with the player.