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Liverpool’s preparations for the new season are stepping up a gear, with the latest batch of new contracts being handed out to the club’s youngsters.
There’s now less than a month to go until the Reds get their Premier League title defense underway, with Bournemouth set to visit Anfield on August 15 to kick off the 2025/26 campaign.
Before that, the Reds have a busy pre-season schedule to work through, with Arne Slot’s side set to travel to Hong Kong on Sunday for the start of their tour to Asia, and there is of course the small matter of transfers still to come as Hugo Ekitike prepares for his move.
The 23-year-old looks to be on the verge of completing his move to Merseyside, with personal terms having already been agreed and the striker having handed in a transfer request to try and speed things up at Eintracht Frankfurt.
With Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez already added to the ranks, and Giorgi Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman and Armin Pecsi strengthening the goalkeeping options, it’s already been quite the summer for Liverpool.
And now 10 new contracts have been handed out, with the club’s latest batch of first-year scholars having been confirmed.
The players involved will make the step up from U16 level to the U18s, and among them will be defender Harvey Owen, who signed from Wolves back in 2023 for a fee of around $1.1 million (£800,000).
The 16-year-old has already played eight times for the U18s, although he could be set for more opportunities now as he officially makes the step up in the academy.
Also joining the U18s ranks will be forward Finn Inglethorpe, son of the academy’s director Alex Inglethorpe, who has been called up to England’s youth teams in the past.
Six defenders, including Owen, have agreed contracts, with Harry Moran, Cameron Williams, Lucas Clarke, Lenix Conde and Ellis Hickman also being handed scholarships.
Midfielders Haydn Murray-Holme and AJ Yeguo, as well as forward La’more Forrester, have also joined the U18s ranks.
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Both first-team boss Slot and Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish were present as the new scholars signed their deals and were handed special club caps to mark the occasion.
Liverpool is yet to officially appoint a new U18s coach following the departure of Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, who left the club to take up the role of assistant manager at Huddersfield Town.
The Reds look to be closing in on Simon Wiles though, who will make the move from Manchester United after less than a year with the Red Devils.
Former Wales manager Rob Page has already been confirmed as Liverpool’s new U21s boss, replacing Barry Lewtas as the Reds’ academy has undergone a major overhaul this summer.
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