Liverpool Pen New Deal With Talented Youngster: A Good Decision By The Board? | OneFootball

In an official statement, Liverpool confirmed that they have extended the contract of James Norris. The young academy prospect has penned a long-term deal at Anfield, securing a future that looked uncertain this summer. The 18-year-old is considered one of the club’s most talented players, though the entire duration of his new contract has not been revealed.

Who Is James Norris?

A native of West Derby, James Norris has been a part of the Liverpool youth setup since the U9 levels. He has since enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence and has had many successes along the way, too, having notably reached the FA Youth Cup final last year.

Aside from his contributions in the coveted tournament, Norris had been one of the best performers in the Liverpool U18 squad for the past couple of years, notching up 35 competitive appearances for the club.

A left-back by trade, the 18-year-old is advertised as an attacking yet versatile fullback. He loves to make marauding runs down the left-hand channel but is capable of playing in midfield if required.

Norris’ impressive performances for the Liverpool U18 setup has already earned him a promotion to the reserve this summer. He had even made his senior debut for Liverpool during the infamous 5-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup back in 2019 and often represents the England youth teams.

UEFA Youth League: Benfica vs Liverpool Seixal, 03/03/2020 – SL Benfica hosted Liverpool this afternoon at Caixa Futebol Campus in Seixal, in a game counting for the UEFA Youth League 2019/20 Round of 16. James Norris, Tiago Gouveia Carlos Costa / Global Imagens PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY xCarlosxCostax

Does He Have Any Future At The Club?

James Norris is officially a member of Liverpool’s Elite Development Squad right now. He has already made a couple of appearances in the Premier League 2, so an immediate promotion to the senior side is a long shot at the moment.

However, in the long-term, Norris’s presence in the second team will be crucial for the club. Although Jurgen Klopp already has two left-back options at his disposal, in the form of Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas, he could certainly favour a homegrown star breaking into the setup.

Not to mention, Norris himself has a lot of prospects in Liverpool’s second team this season, especially after the departure of Yasser Larouci. The Algerian has joined Troyes, which means the 18-year-old will now have to compete with Tony Gallacher in his quest to become the first-choice left-back for the EDS.

The Englishman, though, must make full use of his opportunities if he is to have any chance of making it to the big stage. But given his potential, it will be interesting to see how he progresses at Anfield this season.