Liverpool offer new scholar's contract to Nigerian teenage midfielder Afolami Onanuga

NIGERIAN teenager Afolami Onanuga has signed a new deal with English Premier League giants Liverpool that enables him to feature as a first year scholar and a member of the club's U18s squad on a permanent basis.

Onanuga, 16, has Nigerian and British nationality, meaning he is eligible to represent the Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles at the moment. According to Liverpool, the youngster will begin the 2023/24 season as a first year scholar and will also feature for the club's U18s side during the course of the year.

Liverpool's official website describes Onanuga as a box-to-box central midfield player who made his U18s debut as an U16 player during the 2022/23 season. In his final season as a schoolboy, he totalled 11 appearances in the U18 Premier League and was on target in a match against Newcastle United.

Onanuga also made his debuts in the FA Youth Cup and U18 Premier League Cup and was called up for the Uefa Youth League clashes against Napoli and Porto. As a kid, Onanuga joined Liverpool at U11 level after he was spotted playing grassroots football in Manchester by Academy scout Ricky Heywood.

This weekend, Liverpool will battle Nottingham Forest in their opening match of the new U18 Premier League season on Saturday, August 12. Onanuga will be hoping to feature in the game and be hoping at some stage during the season, he will be promoted to the senior Liverpool squad.