Josh Abe has committed his future to Liverpool by signing scholarship terms and agreeing a pre-contract for a three-year professional deal that will begin in July 2027. The 15-year-old winger, an England youth international, has put pen to paper after months of interest from several Premier League clubs.
That decision matters now because Liverpool moved to secure one of their most highly rated academy prospects before he can turn professional, after he was linked with Manchester City and Chelsea and other top-flight suitors. Sources familiar with the process said rival clubs were prepared to offer him pro terms worth up to £50,000 a week, but Abe chose the path that has carried him through the club since childhood.
Born in Warrington, about 20 miles east of Liverpool, Abe joined the club's pre-academy aged four and later beat competition from Manchester City before officially signing for the under-nines. He is regarded inside Kirkby as one of the most exciting players in the academy system, and Liverpool's talks over his future were led by Fenway Sports Group technical director Julian Ward.
Abe's rise has continued despite setbacks. He made his UEFA Youth League debut against MSK Zilina in February, scored his first hat-trick for Liverpool Under-18s in a 6-1 win over Leeds United, and then suffered a knee injury while playing for England Under-16s in a tournament in Turkey the same month. Even so, he has been invited to train with Arne Slot's squad on several occasions, and club staff expect him to be fit for pre-season.
The next stage will be watched closely. Abe is set to join Liverpool's first-team squad for next month's tour of the United States, with friendlies in Nashville, New York and Chicago, and he will be given a first-team squad number for the 2026-27 season. The bigger question is how quickly he can turn promise into minutes once he returns from injury, but Liverpool have already won the race to keep a player many of their rivals wanted badly.
