'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='prefix__paint0_linear_4737_37157'%20x1='3.018'%20y1='23.6'%20x2='44.925'%20y2='24.977'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%231CB7FF'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='.502'%20stop-color='%232FF58B'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Liverpool beat Man Utd and Chelsea to sign up wonderkid, 15, in major coup
Jun 03 2026 15:08 · By Daniel Marsh/Senior Sports Reporter/and/Ian Doyle · 37 Reads
View 2 Images
Liverpool have won the race to secure the services of highly-regarded winger Josh Abe, with the 15-year-old agreeing to continue his development at the Academy.
Abe enjoyed a standout breakthrough season after making his under-18s debut in September under Simon Wiles, going on to net eight goals in 10 U18 Premier League North outings before his campaign was cut short by a knee injury sustained while on international duty with England U16s in March.
The youngster, who has been at Liverpool since the age of four, made history as the youngest player ever to turn out for the Reds in the UEFA Youth League when he came off the bench during the round of 32 defeat at MSK Zilina in Slovakia in February, and has also already trained alongside the first team.
Those impressive displays attracted the attention of several top clubs, including Manchester City , Manchester United and Chelsea .
Earlier this year, Abe was also given a tour of Real Madrid's facilities, having signed with Tyler Alexander-Arnold's PLG Agency, which was recently acquired by Gersh.
However, Liverpool were firmly resolved to keep hold of Abe, and talks over his future have now been settled, with the young attacker amongst the latest intake of first-year scholars at the Academy.
He will then put pen to paper on his first professional contract once he turns 17 in July next year.
View 2 Images
Abe is anticipated to return to full fitness for the beginning of pre-season and, with several senior squad members absent following World Cup duties, may well join the first team for their US tour next month, per the Liverpool Echo .
If Abe does link up with the Liverpool first-team, it's likely he will be working under Andoni Iraola, who is poised to become the club's new head coach after reaching a verbal agreement over a two-year deal on Tuesday.
The former Bournemouth manager will replace Arne Slot after the Dutchman was sacked on Saturday.
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.