Academy prospect Conor Bradley has signed his first professional contract with Premier League champions Liverpool. He signs a three-year deal, the maximum allowed for a player of his age.
Conor Bradley Signs Professional Liverpool Contract
Reward for Hard Work
The 17-year-old joined the Reds last year having played with Dungannon United Youth and Dungannon Swifts in his native Northern Ireland.
The right-back from Belfast enjoyed an impressive first season at the club’s Kirkby Academy after joining last summer and has now been rewarded with a first professional contract.
Having already represented and captained his country at junior levels, captaining the Northern Ireland U16s to Victory Sheild success, Bradley will now be hoping to become the first Northern Irishman since Sammy Smyth in 1954 to represent Liverpool senior level.
A versatile and athletic player, Bradley scored his first goal for the club’s academy against West Bromwich Albion. Towards the end of the season, Bradley made his debut in the UEFA Youth League, before representing the club’s U23s in a Premier League International Cup fixture with Paris Saint-Germain, playing well above his years in both competitions.
Following his switch to the Reds, Bradley told The Belfast Telegraph: “It’s a bit overwhelming that I’m going to join the club that I support.”
The youngster doesn’t need to look far for inspiration and guidance; we have already seen the emergence from the Kirky Academy of fellow right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold into the Liverpool first team and now onto the world stage with his performances. Recently another full-back, Welshman Neco Williams, has had more first-team opportunities for the champions, impressing on each outing.
Could Conor Bradley be the next off the production line for Liverpool?
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