Liverpool have signed another promising youngster from the English system according to sources in the country. Emeka Obi, a 15-year-old, defender from Bury has decided to move to the Reds but the transfer is on hold at the moment due to visa issues.

Obi has had a meteoric rise up the ranks at Bury and became the youngest ever player in the first team when he made his debut at the age of 15 years and 86 days. The debut came in a win in the Checkatrade Trophy over Morecambe.

There were a number of clubs linked with a move for the highly-rated defender with Stoke being one of the favourites to sign him up. Obi is a bit of a mountain being 6’5” currently and it is quite possible that the player of Nigerian descent could grow much more as he completes his teen years.

Stoke did have the player on trial but the Reds have moved big and have decided to spend six figures on the youngster with future incentives and add-ons as reported by ESPNFC.

The Bury manager, David Flitcroft was quoted by the Independent as describing Obi as the “best talent right now at 15 years old in the entire country”.

The manager further went on to say:

“He’s just turned 15, he’s a man mountain, but we teach them how to play football and he’s going to be an unbelievable asset to the football club.”

Jurgen Klopp has made it clear that the Reds will be focussing on the youth team. and he even had stated earlier that he would only buy players from outside the academy if they cannot find a solution for their problem.

More youth products from Liverpool

Obi still has a long way to go before he becomes a regular for Liverpool. Once his visa issues are resolved, the youngster should move into the academy and the quickly into the U23s if the youth coaches believe he is good enough.

The management at the club have also decided to help out the youth team by deciding to amalgamate the first team and the academy at Kirkby. This is being planned as it would help foster the relationship between Jurgen Klopp and Alex Inglethorpe, who is the academy director at Liverpool.

The Reds have seen the likes of Ovie Ejaria and Trent-Alexander Arnold make breakthroughs into the first team. Not only the pair, the likes of Kevin Stewart and Cameron Brannagan are tipped to make it big at the Merseyside club.

Jurgen Klopp has a history of bringing in young players into his side and letting them grow while playing first team football. This would certainly help Liverpool in the long run and maybe the “man mountain” that they have signed from Bury will have a chance to prove himself in the coming years.