The exits, announced via the club’s Premier League retained list in early June, mark a significant shake-up for Arne Slot’s youth setup at the AXA Training Centre, raising concerns about academy depth despite Liverpool’s efforts to retain other promising talents.
Jakub Ojrzynski, a 22-year-old Polish goalkeeper, is the most notable departure, having been an unused substitute in Liverpool’s 2-0 Premier League win over Sheffield United in February 2021.
His loan spells at Caernarfon Town, Radomiak Radom, Den Bosch, Spartakos Kitiou, and Utsiktens BK in Sweden’s second tier reflect his quest for first-team experience, and he’s now on trial with Lechia Gdansk.
Dominic Corness, also 22, a midfielder who captained the U21s, leaves after loans at Yverdon-Sport and Gillingham, where he played six times last season. His 48 key passes and “magic wand” passing earned him praise, but he couldn’t break into the senior side.
Defenders Lee Jonas (20), Louis Enahoro-Marcus (18), and Harry Evers (18) were U21 and U18 regulars, with Jonas, a former Everton youth, representing England at U19 level, though injuries hampered his progress. Enahoro-Marcus, scouted at 10 from Manchester grassroots, and Evers, a versatile left-back, featured prominently for the U18s.
Goalkeepers Reece Trueman (20) and Jacob Poytress (21), both training keepers for the U18s and U21s, depart after limited game time, with Trueman previously at Norwich’s academy and Poytress at Bury and Stalybridge Celtic.
The exits, reported by The Mirror and Liverpool Echo, follow Liverpool’s £287 million summer spending on Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and others, offset by Jarell Quansah’s £35 million sale.
Fans on X expressed mixed sentiments, with @redRondoLFC asking, “Any we should have kept?” while @LFCTransferRoom noted the club’s focus on new talent. Liverpool offered contracts to eight prospects—Kareem Ahmed, Keyrol Figueroa, Emmanuel Airoboma, Wellity Lucky, Terence Miles, Ranel Young, Michael Laffey, and Kyle Kelly—to bolster the academy, with Figueroa, son of Maynor Figueroa, a standout.
However, the loss of seven players, alongside Barry Lewtas and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s coaching departures, signals a challenging transition for Liverpool’s youth system.
