Liverpool are set to welcome a new addition to their scouting department after Belgian side KV Mechelen confirmed Laurens Paulussen has joined the Reds
KV Mechelen confirmed that Laurens Paulussen has joined Liverpool.
KV Mechelen confirmed that Laurens Paulussen has joined Liverpool.(Image: KV Mechelen/X)
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Belgian club KV Mechelen have confirmed that Laurens Paulussen has joined Liverpool as a scout.
The 35-year-old's move to the Premier League champions was announced by the Jupiler Pro League side, as they revealed a 'final transfer of the winter window'. As part of their announcement, Mechelen expressed their pride at their former player making the move to the Reds.
In a tweet, they wrote: “The final transfer of the winter transfer window is a fact. Scout and former player Laurens Paulussen is making the move to Liverpool Football Club. Laurens will start working for Liverpool FC as a scout in Belgium - Netherlands.
"The club is particularly proud and wishes Laurens every success."
Paulussen's previous role, which he held for three years, involved overseeing the club's first-team scouting operations at the Belgian top-flight club.
One of the successes of his time upstairs at the club was seeing their squad's market value increase by 21.3 per cent.
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The specifics surrounding the 35-year-old's move to Liverpool have yet to be disclosed but he will specialise in the Holland and Belgium region in Europe.
Paulussen was a defender during his playing career, making 90 league appearances for KV Mechelen. He also had spells in Belgium's second tier with Waasland-Beveren and KVC Westerlo, as well as earning international caps for Belgium's Under-20s.
He retired in 2022 after a stint at KFC Sint-Lenaarts and in the three years since, he has been overseeing the operations in the scouting department within the Belgian top-flight club.
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Liverpool had a quiet winter transfer window but it ended on a high with the arrival of Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes. The Reds beat Chelsea and Manchester United to the 20-year-old's signature with the French youngster joining the club in the summer.
Arne Slot's side made late efforts to add reinforcements with the club forced to endure disappointment in their pursuit of Lutsharel Geertruida.
Speaking on Thursday, the Dutchman said: "I think I've said that we've tried to strengthen the squad, so that probably tells you [I wanted players] and I don't think I was the only one who wanted that. But it's always about availability and the right player.
"We do have discussions about what is good for the short and for the long term of the club and now, for example, Jeremy Jacquet wasn't available for the winter, but he was for the summer.
"We've made a decision to sign him because we think he's a really good signing for the future of this club. I'm very happy with the squad. Let that be clear. But it's all clear and obvious, that we have three long-term injuries (Bradley, Leoni, Alexander Isak).
"That's why we've tried to strengthen the squad in winter break and the player you mentioned (Geertruida), in the end, wasn't available. But we've tried to strengthen the squad - that is clear.
"And that tells you that we think that it would have helped us. But it should be possible that we're not gonna sign players that are not good enough to play for this club."