Barrow Officially Sign Former Liverpool Defender

Barrow AFC have secured the services of Joe Anderson, a 24-year-old defender with a notable youth career at Liverpool, on an 18-month deal from Sunderland. The transfer, for an undisclosed fee and subject to EFL approval, marks manager Paul Gallagher's third signing of the window.[1][2][3]

Anderson's journey began at Liverpool, where he spent nine years before switching to rivals Everton at age 15 in 2016. There, he excelled, making over 100 appearances for the U18s and U21s while captaining the youth sides.[1] In 2023, he joined Sunderland, featuring in seven first-team games during their promotion campaign. He also gained experience on loan at Shrewsbury Town, playing 30 matches in League One.[1][3]

Expressing his excitement, Anderson said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get the move done. From when I first heard about the interest to when I spoke to the Gaffer it moved quite quickly and from the conversations we had I was set on coming here from the get-go.” He described his style as that of a “modern day defender”, emphasizing clean sheets, calmness on the ball, and linking defense with midfield and attack.[1]

The announcement aligns with Barrow's ambitions in League Two, following their recent FA Cup progress. Official confirmations came via Barrow AFC's Twitter and website, with Sunderland also issuing a statement on the permanent departure.[1][2][3] A club post featured Anderson in action, captioned “𝗝𝗔𝟮𝟮 😮💨 #WeAreBarrow”, signaling high expectations for the versatile left-footed defender.[1]

This move reunites Anderson with lower-league football after his top-flight youth pedigree, potentially bolstering Barrow's backline for the 2026 season.[1]