Jayden Danns, Bobby Clark, James McConnell and Conor Bradley have all emerged from the academy ranks and have broken into the Liverpool first team this season.
Now fans wait to see if their trajectory takes them to become stars at Anfield, or if they end up finding success elsewhere like others that have gone before them.
The Liverpool academy has been prolific in developing players who go on to have careers in the professional game, but here are eight former Liverpool youngsters you might have forgotten about and where they are now…
SUSO
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Spanish sensation came through in September 2012 at the beginning of Brendan Rodgers’ spell in charge of the club and stood out thanks to his technical ability. He made an impressive start in the first team, making his debut in the Europa League against Young Boys before coming on against Manchester United for his Premier League bow, and set up the winner in a League Cup win over West Brom just a few days later. But a host of new signings and the emergence of Raheem Sterling relegated Suso down the pecking order and he left for AC Milan in 2015. Now 30-years-old, Suso plays for La Liga side Sevilla.
NEIL MELLOR
Embed from Getty ImagesAn underrated hero of Liverpool’s iconic 2004/2005 Champions League triumph. When the Reds played a group game against Olympiakos, needing to win by two goals and were 1-0 down, it was Mellor who helped change the game. An equaliser and assist for Steven Gerrard’s legendary late screamer, Mellor showed he was up to the big occasion. However, a nightmare injury left him needing surgery on both knees in 2005. After a brief comeback, he left for Preston in search of first-team football in 2006. He retired in 2012 and is now a pundit, predominantly for Sky Sports.
JON FLANAGAN
Embed from Getty ImagesAt one point he was coined ‘The Red Cafu’, progressing into the first team in 2011 when he made his debut under Kenny Dalglish, who was impressed by the youngster’s ability. Having a legendary Liverpool figure believe in you no doubt helped Flanagan enjoy a solid start and by 2013/14 he was their first choice full back. But injury problems saw him lose his place in the team before he left in 2018, and eventually retired in 2022 at the age of just 29 because of a recurring knee problem.
DAVID THOMPSON
Embed from Getty ImagesFirst attending Liverpool’s training ground, Melwood, for work experience, Thompson quickly became a part of the club’s academy and rose through the ranks alongside soon-to-be-greats such as Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen, winning the 1996 FA Youth Cup. But new additions to the squad became an obstacle for the bright young prospect and Thompson left the club in 2000, enjoying spells at Coventry, Blackburn, Wigan and others. He retired in 2007 and has since represented Liverpool at numerous legends and charity match events.
SHEYI OJO
Embed from Getty ImagesAt just 14-years-old, Ojo was bought for around £2 million by Liverpool, who fought off competition from others including Chelsea. There were high hopes for the attacking midfielder but over the seven years he was part of the senior set-up, he was loaned out seven times and never got his chance at Anfield despite the early hype around him. He joined Cardiff City permanently in 2022 and is currently on loan at Belgian club KV Kortrijk from the Welsh side.
JOAO TEIXEIRA
Embed from Getty ImagesArriving with a lot of hype from Portugal, Teixeira had caught the eye of Liverpool coaches when playing for Sporting Lisbon against them during the 2011/12 season. His breakout season came on loan at Brighton in 2014/15, where he was their top scorer in the Championship, leading him to win their Young Player of the Season award. He was also named Liverpool’s ‘Academy Player of the Year’ in 2015, only to return to Portugal a year later when he signed for Porto. He now stars for Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League.
ANDRE WISDOM
Embed from Getty ImagesAnother Liverpool youngster who made his first-team debut under Brendan Rodgers. Wisdom impressed when given a chance in the Europa League against Young Boys and would see his opportunities in the senior side increase, signing a new long-term deal with the club in January 2013. But a series of loan spells away from the club failed to see him break back into the side and he left permanently for Derby County in 2017. Now 30, he plays for Warrington Town in the National League North.
JAY SPEARING
Embed from Getty ImagesThe tough tackling midfielder was a regular for Liverpool between 2010 and 2012, starting in the FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea in May 2012. But the arrival of Brendan Rodgers at the club saw him loaned out to Bolton Wanderers, who he would join on a permanent deal the following season. He had spells at Blackburn, Blackpool and Tranmere before making a return to where it all started, becoming Liverpool’s under-18 coach while also being registered as an over-age player for the club’s Under-21 side in order to help their development.
