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Rafaela Borggrafe joined Liverpool in July Liverpool goalkeeper Rafaela Borggrafe has joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan for the rest of the season. The 25-year-old German joined the Reds from SC Freiburg in July and has made four appearances for Gareth Taylor's side. Last month, Borggrafe received a six-game ban for using discriminatory language towards a team-mate. The sanction, which Borggrafe has already served, followed an investigation by the Football Association that began in September. The incident, believed to involve Borggrafe making an allegedly racist remark, took place during Liverpool's pre-season training camp. Liverpool are bottom of the Women's Super League, one point adrift of 11th-placed West Ham with eight games remaining. It's been a difficult campaign for Borggrafe since joining Liverpool in the summer. The goalkeeper had a six-game ban for using discriminatory language towards a team-mate and has struggled to claim the shirt since, with Jennifer Falk impressing since joining on loan in January. Falk's arrival drops Borggrafe down the pecking order, while Liverpool still have young goalkeeper Faye Kirby and experienced stopper Rachael Laws in their ranks. The loan move to Bayer Leverkusen allows Borggrafe a chance to play regular football and reignite a career which has stalled. Her long-term future is uncertain but she has at least another year on her contract at Liverpool. It will mean Liverpool have work to do in the goalkeeping department in the summer with Laws' contract coming to an end, and Falk's loan agreement running out. It is understood Liverpool are very keen to sign Falk on a permanent deal and there are various options in her loan contract that means they can explore that in the summer - but it will be the player's decision. Infantino 'infantile' for wanting to lift Russia ban What is going on with Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia? What impact might 'unprecedented' Six Nations schedule have? Watch every gripping episode of The Night Manager Graham Norton discusses being invited to Taylor Swift's wedding Four women join forces to expose a dangerous predator Olympian Keely Hodgkinson on the mindset behind her success What impact might 'unprecedented' Six Nations schedule have? 'Don't be afraid of being different, it's your superpower' Is the Australian Open still the 'Happy Slam'? Just seven signings - the Premier League's quiet deadline day 'Strong and smart' - Liverpool's £60m man, who can 'become like Van Dijk' In Pictures: Sporting photos of the week All the done deals on deadline day in one place Will Seahawks stop Patriots' record bid? Lowdown on Super Bowl 2026 Two club-record signings - but are Palace papering over the cracks? Six Nations preview & BBC pundit predictions 'Complacent and lost control' - Man City's second-half problem 'If Arsenal don't win title now the blame will be entirely their own' Happy tennis, serious name - how history-maker Alcaraz clinched career Slam What's gone wrong for Chelsea in WSL and is Bompastor still right coach? Why 2026 could be GB's most successful Winter Olympics The most powerful woman in football - meet game's first female super agent Your Winter Olympics need-to-know guide in six charts Nine siblings and a dog called Zoomer - Wirtz in his own words Barcelona 'shakedown' offers first hints of F1 2026 The NFL's 'Queen's Gambit' who helped create $1. 5bn worth of talent Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.