Liverpool confirm key backroom appointment in major restructure

Liverpool have confirmed (via official Liverpool FC website) the arrival of Gary Probert as the club’s new head of loan management, a role seen as vital in their ongoing shake-up behind the scenes.

Probert joins from Ipswich Town, where he had been director of football operations since 2021. At Portman Road, he oversaw recruitment, academy planning, analysis, and the club’s loan system.

He also spent over eight years at Bristol City as academy manager and began his career in youth development at Forest Green Rovers.

The Reds had been searching for a permanent replacement since Matt Newberry moved from interim loan manager to director of global talent in late 2024. Liverpool reportedly headhunted Probert to fill the position after a long review.

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A key role in Liverpool’s big picture

The loan manager position may not grab headlines like a new striker, but it has become crucial for Liverpool’s business model.

With 11 players currently out on loan and over £100 million raised from academy sales this summer, the role is central to the club’s ability to balance development and finances.

A club insider described Probert as the “stand-out candidate” because of his mix of experience and player development skills. His job will involve finding the right loan moves so youngsters can return ready for Arne Slot’s team — or be sold at the right price.

Liverpool know the power of a smart loan. Harvey Elliott’s spell at Blackburn showed how one season away can turn into a springboard to Anfield success. Get it wrong, though, and a promising career could drift like a mis-hit cross at the Kop.

Probert will work closely with new coaches Rob Page and Simon Wiles at the academy level, along with Luiz Fernando Iubel, Liverpool’s new individual development lead. Together, they form the latest pieces in a wide restructure aimed at keeping the Reds competitive both on the pitch and in the transfer market.

Liverpool players on loan this season

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