The Liverpool academy captain whose family has 100+ years at the club is about to walk away

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At first glance, a move away from Liverpool out of the English academy system may appear as a significant step down for a player who has spent his entire childhood developing within one of Europe’s biggest academies. MSK Zilina v MFK Zemplin Michalovce - 8th Round Of Nike Liga | NurPhoto/GettyImagesPilling was left out of Andoni Iraola’s pre-season tour squad this summer, and with opportunities in Liverpool’s first team becoming increasingly difficult to secure, a move elsewhere could provide the regular senior football that others have likewise sought to continue progressing up the ranks.

Despite impressing at youth level as a versatile player that could be utilised on the left side of a midfield four and even as a No.9, a pathway into Liverpool’s senior squad remained difficult. Pilling was named on Arne Slot’s bench twice during last season’s Carabao Cup run against Southampton and Crystal Palace but was unable to make his first-team debut.

TOPSHOT-FBL-EUR-C1-PSV-LIVERPOOL | NICOLAS TUCAT/GettyImagesRather than signalling a lack of faith in their academy, the moves appear to reflect a more proactive approach, ensuring promising youngsters have a realistic pathway into senior football or move to environments where regular senior opportunities are more readily available. Liverpool’s summer transition period is therefore not only taking place at first-team level but throughout the entire structure of the club.