LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, November 3, 2025: Liverpool's Tommy Pilling during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid CF. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, November 3, 2025: Liverpool's Tommy Pilling during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid CF. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool are close to agreeing a deal to sell local-born midfielder Tommy Pilling to Slovakian club MFK Zemplin Michalovce, ending a 16-year association.
Pilling was left out of Liverpool’s first-team squad for their pre-season tour of the United States after training under Andoni Iraola earlier in the summer.
It comes with the 21-year-old set to complete a permanent move to Slovakia in the coming days.
This Is Anfield understands Pilling is expected to join MFK Zemplin Michalovce on a long-term deal having entered the final year of his contract at Liverpool.
BURTON, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 2, 2025: Liverpool's Tommy Pilling during the English Football League Trophy Northern Group H match between Burton Albion FC and Liverpool FC Under-21's at The Burton Albion FC Stadium. Burton won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
BURTON, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 2, 2025: Liverpool's Tommy Pilling during the English Football League Trophy Northern Group H match between Burton Albion FC and Liverpool FC Under-21's at The Burton Albion FC Stadium. Burton won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Zemplin Michalovce finished fifth in last season’s Slovak Super Liga and kick off their new campaign against FK Zeleziarne Podbrezova on Saturday.
While it serves as a left-field move, it should provide the St Helens-born midfielder with an opportunity to establish himself at first-team level.
Pilling is yet to gain experience out on loan and his only experience of senior football at Liverpool came in the pre-season friendly against Athletic Club at Anfield last summer.
BURTON, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 2, 2025: Liverpool's Tommy Pilling during the English Football League Trophy Northern Group H match between Burton Albion FC and Liverpool FC Under-21's at The Burton Albion FC Stadium. Burton won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
BURTON, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 2, 2025: Liverpool's Tommy Pilling during the English Football League Trophy Northern Group H match between Burton Albion FC and Liverpool FC Under-21's at The Burton Albion FC Stadium. Burton won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
He also made the bench on two occasions under Arne Slot but failed to make it onto the pitch in those Carabao Cup clashes with Southampton and Crystal Palace.
His great-grandfather, Jack Pilling, made 118 appearances for Liverpool during wartime between 1942 and 1946, and the youngster grew up a supporter.
But he will now look to forge his career elsewhere, following a similar path to former U21s winger Trent Kone-Doherty, who made a €750,000 move to Norwegian side Molde FK in February.
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Liverpool are set to sanction further deals for a number of the older academy players left out of the first-team squad for their USA tour.
Midfielder Kyle Kelly is understood to be close to a season-long move to Forest Green Rovers having signed a new one-year contract this summer.
This Is Anfield understands Amara Nallo, Wellity Lucky and Keyrol Figueroa are among those also in the frame for a temporary move, though Lucky is yet to resume full training after injury.
Goalkeeper Kornel Misciur was a surprise omission with 18-year-old Bailey Hall instead making the trip Stateside, and Misciur is now being lined up for a loan to a non-league side in England.
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