Liverpool transfer news: Reds 'beat Arsenal' to promising 17-year-old striker signing

Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, maybe Alexander Isak... without a doubt, Slot's Liverpool are the most active major club in the current transfer window. And beyond the high-profile names for the first team, the Reds have apparently secured the arrival of a promising young talent for their academy.

The club have captured young striker Will Wright, 17, one of the standouts at Salford City. The deal came as a surprise, as the favourites to sign the player had been Arsenal.

According to The Athletic, the Gunners had already reached an agreement with Salford for around £200,000, plus performance-related bonuses. The plan was for the player to split his time between the Under-18 and Under-21 teams, with possible appearances in the UEFA Youth League. However, the London club were unable to move forward in negotiations due to a lack of agreement on personal terms with the player.

On the other hand, Liverpool met all the requirements of both the player and the club, sealing the deal for the youngster, who has taken a significant step in his development. The young player was reportedly influenced by his desire to stay in the northwest of England, having grown up and played most of his career in the region, and was not keen on relocating to London.

Additionally, Wright was said to be impressed by the facilities and development pathway offered by Liverpool, which included the possibility of eventually being promoted to the first team through a progressive system.

?✍? Will Wright completed second part of medical as new Liverpool player from Salford City.

Contract until June 2028, three year deal… and here we go. ?⭐️ #LFC pic.twitter.com/ICNJgBwwhT
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 29, 2025

What are Liverpool’s plans for Wright?

With a background outside the traditional system, the player is now joining a top-flight English club. The 17-year-old was the top scorer in Salford’s youth and B teams, making him a highly sought-after prospect among Premier League giants. As a result, he earned a spot in the first team, making his debut in January this year in a match against Manchester City.

Afterwards, the player made two more appearances in League Two before the end of last season, without scoring or providing assists. Now, Wright is expected to undergo medical tests in the coming days and join Liverpool’s U21 squad as early as next week.

The Reds’ academy team is currently managed by Rob Page, former coach of the Wales national team.