The first thing that catches the eye in Alex Inglethorpe’s office at Liverpool‘s AXA Training Centre is a framed photo from Trent Alexander‑Arnold.
The picture dates back to 2019, showing the academy director and the young star watching a match together. Alexander‑Arnold departed for Real Madrid last year after two decades on Merseyside, yet his journey still inspires every newcomer to Liverpool’s academy.
“Our ideal is simple: develop local youngsters who can lift the first‑team and bring trophies home,” Inglethorpe explains.
“At Liverpool the standards are sky‑high, so finding a player who can win every possible honour feels like a dream.”
Inglethorpe and his staff guide youth development while keeping the academy and senior squad perfectly aligned.
One saying goes: the first‑team pitch sits just 300 metres from the Kirkby academy, yet the trek can easily span a decade.
Under Andoni Iraola, graduates such as Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas and James McConnell have all featured this season.
“The World Cup calendar gave us a unique window, and Andoni’s team spent his opening week immersing themselves in the academy,” Inglethorpe notes.
“That early immersion gave us a head start on building relationships.”
At Kirkby, phones are collected each morning and contracts even cap the engine size of cars allowed on the grounds.
“First impressions count,” Inglethorpe says.
“Before you even kick a ball, the car you drive or the watch you wear can shape how staff and teammates see you.”
“We’ve long believed in ‘earning the right’ before anything else.”
Last week Manchester United secured 16‑year‑old winger Isaac Konde on a one‑year scholarship, followed by a five‑year professional deal, with compensation talks now under way.
In February a tribunal ordered Liverpool to pay at least £2.8 m to Chelsea for Ngumoha, who left Chelsea in September 2024 and turned professional a year later.
Both cases illustrate the shifting climate around youth talent today.
Liverpool prides itself on a sensible, responsible approach that favours delayed gratification, though the wage structure is being revisited.
“It’s always flattering when other clubs chase your players; it proves you’re doing something right,” he adds.
“The market for 16‑year‑olds is distorted by Brexit and tighter recruitment rules, making deals feel more extreme than before.”
“When demand spikes, fees and wages adjust, so we simply adapt to the new reality.”
Do you think Liverpool will need a Scouser in the first team?
Curtis Jones’ move to Inter Milan left Liverpool without a home‑grown first‑team player from the city.
“Ideally we’d love a squad full of Scousers,” Inglethorpe admits.
“The club’s supporters prove that anyone who embodies the Scouser spirit—think Shankly or Dalglish—can be embraced as one of their own.”
“Fearless, passionate, tough‑playing lads win hearts, regardless of postcode or parking slot. That’s the club’s magic.”
One talent to watch is 15‑year‑old Luca Eden, a Wirral‑born midfielder already capped at England youth level.
He recently became the youngest Liverpool player to appear in the UEFA Youth League, eclipsing records set by Joshua Abe, Ngumoha and Alexander‑Arnold.
“We have plenty of Scousers in the academy and many who could reach the first team. If a lad comes from Warrington, that’s fine too,” Inglethorpe stresses.
Releasing eight academy players at the end of last season remains one of the toughest parts of his job.
He explains that even legends like Harry Kane at Spurs or Alexander‑Arnold weren’t always the top prospects in their age groups.
“At that stage, uncertainty reigns. You can’t forecast how youngsters will handle adversity or bumps in the road,” he says.
“I’ve been proved wrong countless times. Take Jarell Quansah—always liked, never a dropout risk, yet never among the top three in his group.”
Quansah departed Liverpool for Bayer Leverkusen in 2025 and has since earned eight England caps.
“There are no guarantees—the academy’s purpose is to let players reach their potential,” Inglethorpe asserts.
“Sometimes leaving is the only path to opportunity. Many who exited have forged solid careers they might not have had here.”
“The straight‑line route is ideal, but alternative pathways can still lead back to Liverpool—that’s the dream.”
Just before stepping onto the pitch, academy players see a sign reading: “Don’t look sideways”—a reminder of the first‑team training area.
Next month marks Inglethorpe’s 14th year at Liverpool. So how does he define success?
“Anyone would love to improve what they inherit, and I believe we’ve done that,” he reflects. “We’ve seen academy graduates lift major trophies, and we’re proud to be part of that era.”
One standout memory shines bright.
The ‘Kids Cup’ victory over Chelsea in the 2024 Carabao Cup final saw Jurgen Klopp lean heavily on academy talent, fielding a side with an average age under 22; Klopp called it his “most special trophy”.
“It was a defining moment. As the game wore on, Jurgen kept swapping seniors for boys, showcasing incredible belief,” Inglethorpe remarks.
Another wall in his office holds a magnetic board: academy headshots on the left, first‑team squad on the right, symbolising the journey every player strives to make.
A £20 m revamp of the academy, slated for completion by 2028, fuels the drive to keep producing first‑team material.
“Exciting times lie ahead, and I’m genuinely thrilled about the future,” he says.
“Julian Ward, our new sporting director, is deeply committed to the academy and has been part of this journey for years.”