Liverpool have confirmed the departure of versatile academy graduate Luca Stephenson, who leaves the club after eight years in a deal worth £700,000.
Stephenson has put pen to paper on a long-term contract with Bolton, who are newly promoted to the Championship this season.
This Is Anfield understands Liverpool will receive £700,000 and have negotiated a 20 percent sell-on clause into the deal.
This will entitle the Reds to a fifth of any future transfer fee and has been the case with a number of sales in recent years.
It marks the end of an eight-year spell at Liverpool for Stephenson, who joined from Sunderland in 2018 and went on to establish himself as a reliable figure in the academy.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, August 4, 2025: Liverpool's Luca Stephenson (L) celebrates with goalscorer Ben Doak after his side's third goal during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Loan spells with Barrow and then Dundee United saw the 22-year-old break out at senior level and his two seasons in Scotland attracted widespread interest.
Though Dundee United had hoped to land Stephenson on a permanent basis they were priced out of any deal by advances from the Football League.
Having entered the final year of his contract it will be considered an excellent piece of business for Liverpool, who have also seen U21s defender Carter Pinnington join West Brom already this summer.
Liverpool waived an up-front fee for Pinnington despite being under contract, with the club instead negotiating a sell-on clause and appearance-based add-ons.
HONG KONG - Monday, July 21, 2025: Liverpool's Ben Doak and Luca Stephenson during a team walk along the Avenue of Stars after the squad arrived at the Rosewood Hotel in Hong Kong ahead of the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 pre-season tournament. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Bolton earned promotion to the Championship via last season’s League One playoffs and are managed by former Everton youngster Steven Schumacher.
Their squad includes ex-Liverpool centre-back Ben Davies, who joined on a free transfer this month following the expiry of his contract at Rangers.
Stephenson has played 101 games of senior football across his stays at Barrow and Dundee United, while he impressed in both pre-seasons under Arne Slot at Liverpool.
But despite the impact he made in those warmup friendlies in 2024 and 2025, he was never given an opportunity at first-team level in a competitive game.