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Liverpool’s ongoing summer activity isn’t confined to high-profile arrivals and senior contract extensions, there’s a changing of the guard under way at Academy level, too.

The club has already confirmed that 10 promising first-year scholars will be making the leap from the under-16s to a refreshed under-18s squad for 2025/26, bringing in a wave of fresh talent just as Simon Wiles takes the reins as the new Under-18s head coach.

The list of new scholars covers every area of the pitch: defenders Harry Moran, Cameron Williams, Harvey Owen, Lucas Clarke, Lenix Conde, and Ellis Hickman; midfielders Haydn Murray-Holme and AJ Yeguo; alongside forwards Finn Inglethorpe and La’more Forrester.

Each has signed a new scholarship deal.

Now the club has confirmed that starlet Joe Bradshaw has graduated from the academy after years of steady progression through the youth setup, signing his first professional contract with the Reds this Thursday.

Joe Bradshaw signs first professional contract with Liverpool FC?

Credits Liverpool FC.

Born on 17 June 2008 in Bolton, Bradshaw first caught Liverpool’s eye when he joined the club’s academy from Accrington Stanley at under-12 level.

His debut for the under-18s arrived unusually early – just three months after turning 15 – making him the fourth-youngest player ever to feature for Liverpool’s U18 side in the Premier League Academy.

A year later, at just 16 years and four months, he became the fifth-youngest Red to appear in the UEFA Youth League, surpassing even Harvey Elliott’s record.

The 2024/25 season saw Bradshaw emerge as the U18s’ top scorer, netting 14 goals and supplying five assists in 22 league appearances—a remarkable return that showcased his eye for goal and tactical intelligence in Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s setup.

The teenager has also been capped for England’s U16 side.

He becomes the latest academy prospect to pen professional terms after striker Kareem Ahmed was announced earlier this week.

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