Liverpool have promoted 15-year-old midfielder Luca Eden to U21s training in pre-season, which saw him work in front of Andoni Iraola on Thursday.
Eden is considered one of the brightest talents in Liverpool’s academy ranks, and last season saw him become the club’s youngest-ever player at U18s level.
The dominant midfielder, who is already drawing comparisons to Steven Gerrard, made his U18s debut aged just 14 years, eight months and 20 days when coming off the bench against Man United in November.
Expected to be part of the U18s squad on a full-time basis in 2026/27, Eden is already gaining experience working with the U21s in pre-season.
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He was pictured among those training in front of head coach Iraola at the AXA Training Centre on Thursday, as part of an U21s group joined by first-team players Jeremy Jacquet, Harvey Elliott and James McConnell.
Iraola and his staff stood on the sidelines along with Richard Hughes as U21s head coach Rob Page, academy director Alex Inglethorpe, assistant Jay Spearing and head of physical performance Dr Conall Murtagh led a lively session.
Eden was not the only 15-year-old involved, with winger Josh Abe also part of the U21s squad in early pre-season.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 7, 2026: Liverpool's Joshua Abe has his left boot taken off in a challenge with Everton's Shea Pita (L) during the U18 Premier League match between Liverpool FC Under-18's and Everton FC Under-18's, the Mini-Mini Merseyside Derby, at Finch Farm. Everton won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Abe is set to join the first team later in the summer, including for their tour of the United States, having seen the pathway laid out for him while agreeing a new contract.
Iraola held conversations with Page, Inglethorpe and individual lead coach Luiz Fernando Iubel, and This Is Anfield understands he has already invested heavily into Liverpool’s youth setup.
He will have an eye on a number of players ahead of the start of pre-season on July 14, with a strong U21s squad available.
Who could Iraola call up from Liverpool’s academy?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Liverpool's substitute Mor Talla Ndiaye on the bench before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
That includes a handful who are no longer eligible as U21s, namely McConnell, goalkeeper Harvey Davies, left-back Luke Chambers, right-back Isaac Mabaya, midfielder Tommy Pilling and forward Kaide Gordon.
Others who still qualify but are considered to have outgrown academy football will be strikers Jayden Danns and Lewis Koumas, left-back Calum Scanlon and midfielder Kyle Kelly.
Centre-backs Mor Talla Ndiaye (pictured above), Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Amara Nallo could be in line for a place among the first-team squad in pre-season, as could U21s captain Kieran Morrison, right-back Calvin Ramsay and centre-forward Will Wright.
Liverpool U21s Spotted in Pre-Season Training
Goalkeepers: Misciur, Davies, Hall, M.Wright
Defenders: Ndiaye, Ndukwe, Nallo, Adekoya, Cisse, Ramsay, Chambers, Scanlon, Mabaya, Pitt, Ewing, Esdaille, Ayman
Midfielders: Morrison, Pilling, Laffey, Kelly, Balagizi*, Onanuga, Upton, Trueman, O’Connor, Cowley, Eden
Forwards: Danns, Koumas, W.Wright, Gordon, Figueroa, Sonni-Lambie, Abe, Bradshaw
* Out of contract
There was no sign of Stefan Bajcetic in U21s training on Thursday though he is not confirmed to have missed out.
Giovanni Leoni has travelled back to Italy for a short break as he nears the end of his rehabilitation for an ACL injury, while Wataru Endo, Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike remain sidelined.