LFC Academy

Reds' 12 Pen New Deals

Twelve Academy players have signed their first professional contracts or extended their deals with Liverpool FC in the last two months. Here's what you need to know about them...

Adam Lewis

Liverpool-born left-back Adam Lewis was a member of the first-team squad that toured North America last summer. It's an experience that has made him even keener to live his dream of playing for the Reds.
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“I swapped shirts with Axel Witsel when we played against Borussia Dortmund and he came up to me and asked me how young I was? He told me I was a good player, keep going and one day I will be like him, which was like, 'Wow!' My dream has come true because of that and I want more of it. I’m hungry for more.”
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Unfortunately a knee injury suffered in September 2019, and aggravated during rehabilitation, kept Lewis out for four months, but in February the Scouser made his first-team debut in front of a packed Anfield against Shrewsbury Town FC in the FA Cup.

“The best moment about it was seeing my family there at Anfield and walking out to You’ll Never Walk Alone – that was just the best moment of my life so far,” said Lewis, who signed a new contract this month. “Even now I get goosebumps thinking about it.”

Jake Cain

A ball-playing central midfielder, Jake Cain began season 2019/20 with Liverpool FC U18s, finished it with Liverpool FC U23s and made his first-team debut – against Shrewsbury Town FC in the FA Cup – in-between.
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“It was an unbelievable season,” the 19-year-old told liverpoolfc.com. “I progressed very well in the first half with the U18s and I got my opportunity to prove that I'm good enough for the U23s as well.”
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Such is the Wigan-born midfielder's progress that, after only signing his first professional contract with the Club last September, he has now penned a new long-term contract just 10 months later. Cain, a key member of LFC's FA Youth Cup winning side in 2019 and a UEFA Youth League regular, is now hoping to learn from some established first-team midfielders.
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“Players like James Milner and Jordan Henderson are just key examples. They're always on it 100% and if people are slacking then they'll tell them. The standard is always kept high and that's why they're doing so well, because the standards are always elite all the time.”

Vitezslav Jaros

Liverpool FC's FA Youth Cup winning goalkeeper appeared for the first-team in a pre-season friendly at Tranmere Rovers FC in July 2019, but the following day suffered an elbow injury that ruled him out until February 2020.
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Born in the Czech Republic, Jaros was signed from SK Slavia Prague in 2017 and has since established himself as LFC U23s first-choice goalkeeper. An unused substitute against Shrewsbury Town FC in the FA Cup in February, the 19-year-old now speaks with a Scouse twang to his accent and hopes to follow fellow countrymen Patrik Berger, Vladimir Smicer and Milan Baros by playing for the Reds.
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“They are legends back home and legends of this football club,” he said. “I was only about four when Smicer scored in Istanbul! It is an honour for me to play for Liverpool and if I could go on to achieve even a little bit of what those three did then that would be incredible.
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“At first it was quite tough settling in with the language barrier and the style of football was different, but I've got used to it now and I really enjoy it. I'm enjoying living in the city. This is a special club to play for.”

Fidel O'Rourke

Scouse striker Fidel O'Rourke was spotted playing for his school, St Francis Xavier College, when he was 13 and invited to join Liverpool FC U14s. A boyhood LFC supporter, he was on trial with Tranmere Rovers FC at the time, but hadn't signed for them because of his mum.
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“My mum just told me to wait and don't sign with anyone yet and see if anyone like Liverpool comes in,” he revealed. “Luckily enough they did!” That was five years ago and now the Liverpool FC U18s captain has been rewarded for his progress with his first professional contract.
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An FA Youth Cup winner in 2019, O'Rourke netted seven goals in 2019/20, including one in a 6-1 away win at Everton FC, and has formed an exciting strike partnership with Layton Stewart.
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“Being born in Liverpool and supporting the Club all my life, this just means everything to me and my family,” said 18-year-old Fidel. “I'm going to try to work as hard as I can. I want to stay at this Club for as long as possible and try to impress.”

James Norris

Left-back James Norris came on to make his first-team debut at Aston Villa FC in the Carabao Cup quarter-final in December 2019. Hailing from West Derby, the same suburb of Liverpool that Trent Alexander-Arnold is from, the 17-year-old became the Club's fourth youngest ever player when he did so.
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An England youth international who has been with the Reds since U9s level, Norris played regularly for Liverpool FC U18s, and in the UEFA Youth League for Liverpool FC Under-19s, in season 2019/20.
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James also made the breakthrough at U23 level and was named as a substitute for the first-team's FA Cup 4th round replay against Shrewsbury Town FC at Anfield, but wasn't brought on.
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The attack-minded left-back has also been utilised further forward at youth level and signed his first professional contract with the Reds in June.

Remi Savage

Defender Remi Savage is also Liverpool born and bred and was an FA Youth Cup winner in 2019. An Academy player since the age of five, he was fast-tracked into the Reds' U18 team when still an U16 by former LFC Academy coach Steven Gerrard.
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An ever-present for the U18s in the league in 2019/20, Savage also made debuts for Liverpool FC U19s in the UEFA Youth League, Liverpool FC U21s in the Leasing.com Trophy, and for Liverpool FC U23s.
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Capable of playing at left-back, Savage usually plays alongside Billy Koumetio at centre-back for Liverpool FC U18s and is hoping to get the opportunity to train with the player he looks up to the most in football.
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“A lot of people look up to Virgil Van Dijk across the world, not just Liverpool fans,” he said. “He is probably the best centre-back in the world so I definitely look up to him. I've not had the chance to train with him yet, but hopefully that will come in the future. That would be amazing.”

Adbi Sharif

It is a sign of how highly midfielder Abdi Sharif is regarded at Liverpool FC that he was handed a contract extension in May despite having not kicked a ball all season. The 19-year-old signed his first professional contract in 2019, but suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in pre-season and hasn't played since.
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Despite this, the Toxteth-born midfielder, who scored a penalty in the shoot-out when the Reds beat Manchester City FC in the 2019 FA Youth Cup final, has extended his stay with the Club and is delighted to have done so.
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“It meant the world to me, signing a new extension,” he said. “I don’t think you get the opportunity to play for an amazing football club like Liverpool too often, so I was excited to sign.
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“The staff that’s been around me throughout my injury, I can’t thank them enough, there’s so many to name. I just want to thank all of them for being there for me and I just can’t wait to get back at it and give everything that I have.”

Luis Longstaff

Another member of Liverpool FC's 2019 FA Youth Cup winning team, Luis Longstaff is known as a tricky winger but made his first-team debut as a number nine. The 19-year-old, signed from Newcastle United FC in 2015, played up front during the Reds' Carabao Cup exit to Aston Villa FC in December.
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“I had to learn the new position fast because I’d only played as a striker about five games before the Aston Villa game,” he admitted to liverpoolfc.com. “It suits my game because I’m not really an out-and-out No.9 and I’m a player that likes to drop in and out a little bit and help the team.
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“We were basically an U23s team playing against Aston Villa’s first team in the quarter-final of the Cup, but it was a great experience and, despite the result, it was one of the highlights of the season.”
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Longstaff, who made his U23s debut this season, also caught the eye when netting twice in a 7-0 UEFA Youth League win against SSC Napoli at St Helens and is keen to point out that he isn't related to the Longstaff brothers currently at Newcastle United FC. “Just so I don’t have to hear it anymore, they are absolutely no relation,” he says. “No relation at all!”

Joe Hardy

Wirral-born striker Joe Hardy spent his youth career at Manchester City FC before moving to London to play for Brentford FC in 2017. Although he didn't progress into the first-team at Griffin Park, he netted 40 goals for the Bees' B-team in 80 games.

“I managed to get a move to Liverpool on the back of it,” he reflected after signing for the Reds in January 2020. “If there is one team you would want to sign for at this minute it would be Liverpool.”
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Before the U23s season was curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Hardy scored seven goals and also made his first-team debut as a substitute in Liverpool FC's 1-0 FA Cup win against Shrewsbury Town FC at Anfield.

The 21-year-old has since signed a contract extension and believes he can make the breakthrough at LFC. “Harvey Elliott is only 17 and he's getting opportunities,” he told LFCTV. “The opportunities are there and if you can perform well and prove yourself you never know what can happen.”

Liam Coyle

Tough-tackling Scouse midfielder Liam Coyle lives so close to Melwood that he can walk home from training sessions when invited to work with the first-team.

The 20-year-old has been with the Reds for a decade and is a holding midfielder who specialises in winning back possession. Persistent back injuries have reduced Coyle's game-time in recent seasons, but earlier this month he was rewarded for his efforts with an extended contract.

“Buzzing to have signed another year with the Club I love,” he tweeted after signing the new deal. “Can't wait to be back.”
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Liverpool FC commentator Steve Hunter has seen many of Coyle's games for both the U18s and U23s and believes the Liverpudlian deserves the opportunity to prove himself next season. “He has had a tough time through injuries, but never gives up and this is the reward,” he said. “He will be back stronger than ever.”

Owen Beck

Neco Williams isn't the only Welsh full-back to have progressed at Liverpool FC this season. Left-back Owen Beck broke into the Reds U18s team this season and has already shown that he has an eye for goal, netting the winner against Southampton U18s in the Premier League Cup.

The 17-year-old should be decent in front of goal as his uncle Ian knew where the net is, scoring a club-record 346 goals for Liverpool FC between 1981 and 1996. If you've not worked it out yet, Beck's uncle is none other than Ian Rush!
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Like the legendary Anfield goalscorer, Owen is also from Flint, North Wales, and first linked up with the Reds U13s after a stint with Stoke City FC.

A Wales youth international, he made the bench during Liverpool FC's UEFA Youth League campaign, but is yet to make his European debut. Beck signed his first professional contract with the Reds last month.

Ben Winterbottom

If you've bought an official Liverpool FC Matchday Programme in 2020 you will spot Ben Winterbottom's name on the first-team fixtures and line-ups page.

Along with Adrian, Caoimhin Kelleher, Andy Lonergan, Vitezslav Jaros and – before he returned to Belgium – Simon Mignolet, the 19-year-old is one of six goalkeepers to have been on the bench for Liverpool FC this season. Alisson, if you're wondering, has never been named as a substitute.
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Preston-born Winterbottom, a 2019 arrival from Blackburn Rovers FC, was an unused substitute for the Reds' Carabao Cup visit to Villa Park in December. He has also appeared for the U19s in the UEFA Youth League and U21s in the Leasing.com Trophy.
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Winterbottom, who signed his first professional contract with Liverpool FC in July 2020, also made a memorable debut for Liverpool FC U23s in Premier League 2 when he saved a penalty against Derby County FC U23s in a 3-3 draw in September.