Liverpool Academy Weekly Round-Up: Wilson joins Hull, Curtis Jones signs first professional contract

There was a flurry of transfer activity at Liverpool’s Kirkby Academy on deadline day, with several U23 player leaving the club.

Harry Wilson was just one of a number of players to leave Liverpool on a productive deadline day for Liverpool, joining Championship side Hull on a loan deal until the end of the season.

BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND – Sunday, January 28, 2018: Liverpool’s captain Harry Wilson during the Under-23 FA Premier League 2 Division 1 match between Liverpool and Derby County at Prenton Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

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The forward, 20, has been a stand-out figure for Neil Critchley’s side for over 18 months, scoring almost 40 goals since the start of last season, and has been rewarded with a new long-term contract.

Lloyd Jones also left the club on deadline day, but move was a permanent one, joining League Two promotion chasers Luton Town.

The defender, 22, joined the Reds from Plymouth in 2011, and had loan spells at Cheltenham, Accrington Stanley, Blackpool and Swindon Town, but failed to make a first-team appearance at Anfield.

Ovie Ejaria was another player to leave the club on deadline day, securing a loan deal to Championship strugglers Sunderland until the end of the season.

The Black Cats were publicly interested in Ejaria’s U23s team-mate Ben Woodburn, but targeted Ejaria after Jürgen Klopp ruled out any chance of the Welshman going out on loan.

BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND – Sunday, January 28, 2018: Liverpool’s Oviemuno Ovie Ejaria celebrates scoring the winning goal with team-mates Bobby Adekanye and Conor Masterson during the Under-23 FA Premier League 2 Division 1 match between Liverpool and Derby County at Prenton Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

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Sunderland manager Chris Coleman was pleased with the signing and said: “I’m really excited. Ovie is a good player and he’ll be a good addition.”

Just days before joining Sunderland, Ejaria scored a brilliant individual goal as Liverpool U23s moved 12 points clear at the top of Premier League 2 with a 1-0 win over Derby County at Prenton Park.

Danny Ward and Ben Woodburn both played the full 90 minutes, whilst Jon Flanagan also got valuable game time at right-back.

An injury to full-back Juanma meant that U18s captain Adam Lewis came on to make his debut for Critchley’s side, whilst young Canadian forward Liam Millar played just over half-an-hour.

Liverpool U23s: Ward, Flanagan, Juanma (Lewis, 42), Jones (Masterson, 69), Johnston, Kane, Wilson, Ejaria, Gomes (Millar, 57), Woodburn, Adekanye.

BLACKBURN, ENGLAND – Saturday, January 6, 2018: Liverpool’s Curtis Jones during an Under-18 FA Premier League match between Blackburn Rovers FC and Liverpool FC at Brockhall Village Training Ground. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

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Rhian Brewster missed the game due to his ankle injury suffered against Manchester City three weeks ago, and it is likely that the forward will be out for three to four months after undergoing surgery.

The England U17 World Cup winner has been an ever-present threat for the U23s this season, scoring six goals and creating seven assists in 15 games this season.

Despite this, there was some good news to end the week at Kirkby, as U18s midfielder Curtis Jones has signed his first professional contract with Liverpool, keeping him at his boyhood club until 2020.

The midfielder has scored 15 goals for Steven Gerrard’s U18s which has helped them remain unbeaten in the Premier League and qualify for the last 16 of the UEFA Youth League.

Finally, Liverpool U23s goalkeeper Andy Firth has joined National League side Chester on a loan deal until the end of the season.

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Source: anfieldhq.com