Three former Liverpool players are currently taking part in a pre-season camp designed for unsigned players to stay fit and find their next club.
While clubs across the United Kingdom have started their new league season, more than 40 free agents are part of a 10-week pre-season camp held by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).
The programme, which is fully funded by the players’ trade union, offers unsigned players who were contracted the previous season the opportunity to train over the summer as they wait to find their next club.
It’s now in its second year and three former Liverpool players are involved in the residential programme, including Fabio Borini, Jake Cain and Max Woltman.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 3, 2022: Liverpool's captain Jake Cain during the Premier League 2 Division 1 match between Liverpool FC Under-18's and Manchester United FC Under-18's at the Liverpool Academy. (Pic by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
Borini left Liverpool in 2015 after just 38 appearances, initially signing for Sunderland before joining AC Milan, Hellas Verona, Fatih Karagumruk and most recently Sampdoria.
Now 34, the forward is without a club after his contract was not renewed with Sampdoria, seeing him take advantage of the PFA’s programme, which helped over 100 players secure new deals last summer.
Cain and Woltman, meanwhile, are products of Liverpool’s academy and both left the club in 2023 for League Two and League One, respectively.
Cain, 23, made one appearance for the Reds, in the memorable FA Cup win over Shrewsbury Town, and went on to play 66 games for Swindon Town before being released this summer.
MILAN, ITALY - Tuesday, December 7, 2021: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp (L) prepares to bring on substitutes Max Woltman (C) and Conor Bradley (R) during the UEFA Champions League Group B Matchday 6 game between AC Milan and Liverpool FC at the Stadio San Siro. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
As for Woltman, who played twice for Liverpool, his permanent move to Oxford United resulted in only three appearances, and he has not played competitively since January 2024 due to a series of injuries.
“Max Woltman has been through an incredibly difficult period with the Club due to injury,” Oxford’s statement read. “Despite this, he has been an extremely popular figure at the Training Ground, and I want to wish him and the rest all the best going forward.”
The trio have not been involved in every week of the programme to date, but will each be taking advantage of the training and fitness sessions led by UEFA-qualified coaches.
Currently in week eight of 10, they will each be hopeful of finding a new club as a free agent for the 2025/26 season with the help of the PFA.