Nick Barmby last night agreed to join Liverpool from Everton for £6 million in the most contentious transfer on Merseyside in over 40 years.

He will almost certainly face a barrage of hate on his return in the Premiership next season after becoming the first player to leave Everton for their bitter local rivals since 1959.

Barmby has agreed a four-year contract which is believed will bring him around £30,000 a week - a significant increase on the deal he rejected at Goodison.

He will return from a family holiday to have a medical at Anfield on Monday to seal the move which has caused uproar on the blue half of Merseyside.

Barmby's desire to leave shocked Everton's management, who believed he would sign a new contract. But the midfielder's return to favour with England before Euro 2000 changed everything.

The deal is just another twist in an amazing summer transfer scramble on Merseyside. Everton have sold over £10 million worth of players in 48 hours. As well as Barmby's exit, John Collins has joined Fulham, Don Hutchison moved to Sunderland and Mitch Ward left for Barnsley.

It takes Walter Smith's dealings in two years to 51 players and almost £80 million in transfers. He announced the near completion of Alex Nyarko's £4.5 million move from Lens just hours before the Barmby deal.

For Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier, it is his fifth deal of the summer. Markus Babbel, Gary McAllister and Pegguy Arphexad have arrived on free transfers, while Bernard Diomede cost £3 million from Auxerre.