The academy of Liverpool football club has produced some amazing players through the years.
From Steven Gerrard to Trent Alexander-Arnold, many stars have come through the ranks on Merseyside to become a big success at Anfield, however, that is not the case for every player.
Jon Flanagan is a name every Liverpool fan will know after his impressive 2013/14 campaign, but the full-back’s career never took off after that. The Englishman is just one example, while others such as Neco Williams and Harry Wilson have found success in the Premier League away from the Reds.
One winger was tipped to have a big career in the sport during Jurgen Klopp’s era at Liverpool and despite the German coach praising the player at the time, his career has been a mixed bag.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Ryan Kent joins his third club since leaving Liverpool
Ryan Kent was a product of Liverpool’s academy who first became involved in the first team back in 2015 as Klopp took the winger with him on the Reds’ pre-season tour to Asia.
The Englishman would make several appearances in friendlies throughout the years; however, the forward could never quite make it into the plans at Liverpool, making just one appearance for the Merseyside club.
In 2019, Klopp described Kent as a ‘wonderful player’ before the English talent would depart Anfield to join Rangers on a permanent deal, with the money they received for the player covering the £7.25m transfer fee of Takumi Minamino, who replaced the winger at the Premier League club.
The Scottish side was where Kent played the best football of his career, however, the former Liverpool star would leave Ibrox in 2023 to join Fenerbahce and after a tough spell in Turkey, the Englishman is on the move again.
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With the MLS season just starting, Kent has opted to join Seattle Sounders for the remainder of the campaign, with the American franchise having the option to extend his deal by a further year.
Kent will be hoping this move can get his career up and running again, and having joined one of the stronger teams in America in recent years, the Englishman has a good chance of succeeding.
Best Liverpool academy graduates handed debuts by Jurgen Klopp
One of the many positives from Klopp’s time in charge of Liverpool was the number of young stars the German coach handed debuts to. Before his time at Anfield came to an end during the summer of 2024, the legendary coach would play 42 different stars from the Reds academy.
The best is undoubtedly Alexander-Arnold, who has developed into one of the best full-backs of all time, hence why the Liverpool star is on the verge of joining Real Madrid.
Curtis Jones is another, who still has a key role under Arne Slot. While others, such as Harry Wilson and Neco Williams are having success at other clubs in the Premier League.
Conor Bradley, Ben Doak and Caoimhin Kelleher still have their best years ahead of them, which highlights how successful the Merseyside club have been in producing talent over recent years.