Liverpool to allow famous ball boy, now academy striker to leave after nine years at Merseyside

Liverpool Oakley Cannonier

Liverpool are preparing to let academy striker Oakley Cannonier, a top goalscorer who is famous for being the ball boy during the UCL semi-final win against Barcelona in 2019, departs the club this month. Cannonier has been with Liverpool since he was 11 years old, and made a significant impact

Liverpool are preparing to let academy striker Oakley Cannonier, a top goalscorer who is famous for being the ball boy during the UCL semi-final win against Barcelona in 2019, departs the club this month.

Cannonier has been with Liverpool since he was 11 years old, and made a significant impact during the 2021-22 season, where he finished as the top scorer in the Under-18 Premier League. That same campaign also saw him make his debut for the Under-21s.

The striker’s playing time has been diminished ever since then, making only 26 appearances and just 13 starts in the last two seasons, with recurring injuries hindering his progress and development.

ALSO READ: Liverpool forward to start in the next Champions League clash

Liverpool famous ball boy Oakley Cannonier set to depart

With only four appearances for the Liverpool U21 side this season, the decision has been taken by the club to let Cannonier explore a move to another club.

As a result of lack of playing time caused by injuries, Cannonier, who is now 20, has found it difficult to move beyond his status as the ball boy who handed Trent Alexander-Arnold the ball for the swift corner that led to Divock Origi’s second goal against Barcelona in 2019.

His contract with the Reds is believed to last another year and a half, but the club is very likely to overlook the remaining terms of the contract to allow the young striker depart to pursue regular football elsewhere.

Earlier this season, the striker had the privilege of being named among a select group of young players to train with Arne Slot’s first team.

The 20-year-old striker is currently on trial at Leeds United, the club he departed to join the Reds academy in 2015. He came off the bench for half an hour in their U21s 2-1 loss to West Ham U21s on Monday.

The young striker is hoping to secure a permanent move back to West Yorkshire, most likely on a free transfer.

ALSO READ: Spanish sides aiming to sign Liverpool midfielder for the remainder of the season

Author

COMMENTS

Wordpress (0)
Disqus ( )
Everton equaliser
Slot Wolves
Cody Gakpo
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool transfer
Slot red card