Liverpool sign five year deal with Nigeria-eligible teenage centreback snatching him from Celtic

ENGLISH Premier league giants Liverpool have completed a major transfer coup by prising highly-rated Scotland U16 captain of Nigerian descent Olamilekan Jikiemi away from Glasgow Celtic.

Jikieme, 15, is yet to break through into Celtic’s first-team squad but is already playing three years above his age group as part of their U18s. A highly rated centreback, he has been attracting a lot of interest from the English Premier League, with Nottingham Forest just missing out on signing him at the last minute.

He has now turned down Celtic's offer of a three-year contract in favour of a move to Anfield, where he is understood to have signed a scholarship agreement. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, said that Jikiemi signed the necessary paperwork last Sunday, with the agreement running for five years.

However, the teenager is expected to begin his Liverpool journey on scholarship terms before signing his first professional contract after turning 17. Last season, Jikieme made four appearances for Celtic B in the Scottish Lowland Football League and it was only a matter of time before he made his way into the first team.

Jikieme is expected to start his Liverpool career with the club's U18 side, although his performances could see him earn opportunities with the development squad or even the first team if required. Jikiemi is not the only player of Nigerian heritage to sign a scholarship deal with Liverpool this summer, as Joshua Abe, Shadrach Ekiugbo and Daniel Majekodunmi have also signed scholarship deals with the Reds ahead of the new season.