Liverpool offer Nigeria-eligible teenage midfielder Afolami Onanuga his first contract

ENGLISH Premier League giants Liverpool have offered Nigeria-eligible teenage central midfielder Afolami Onanuga his first professional contract in a development which now makes him eligible to play for the senior team.

Onanuga, who just turned 17 on September 1, is a box-to-box midfielder, who started the 2023/24 season as a first-year scholar but he has impressed Liverpool enough for the team to offer him a full contract. Premier League rules stipulate that players in their U17 year must initiate the season under a scholarship agreement and they become eligible to secure their first professional football contract on or after their 17th birthday.

Born in 2006, Onanuga’s journey with Liverpool began at the U11 level, where his dedication and talent propelled him through the ranks, culminating in his permanent promotion to the U18 team at the start of this season. His exceptional performances for Liverpool’s youth teams have not gone unnoticed by the club's managers.

In a significant achievement, the English-Nigerian prodigy marked his debut for Liverpool U21s during his final schoolboy season. His appearance saw him step onto the field in the Premier League International Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, coming off the bench for the last 10 minutes.

Onanuga’s burgeoning career has been notable, with a total of 16 appearances in the U18 Premier League. He also made his debut in the FA Youth Cup against Ipswich Town back in February.