Richard Hughes to cash in again on midfielder as contract clause comes to light | OneFootball

Last week it was announced that Luca Stephenson had called time on his Liverpool career.

The 22-year-old - who plays right-back, right wingback and central midfielder - opted for a permanent move to Bolton Wanderers.

Stephenson, who came through the ranks following a move from Sunderland in 2018 - was let go for only £700k.

That fee represented a big surprise given he only signed a new deal last summer and remained under contract until 2027.

Stephenson seeks opportunities elsewhere

But the versatile performer opted for the lure of first-team football instead of hanging around and waiting to see what Andoni Iraola had in store.

Stephenson wasn’t far off making the grade at Liverpool - following two supreme spells in Scottish football on loan with Dundee United.

He was named young player of the year in 2025 and even captained Jim Goodwin’s side last season.

Luca Stephenson was close to first-team breakthrough

Stephenson was even linked with an early loan return last January when Arne Slot was struggling for solutions in the right-back slot.

But he remained on loan - although his season was eventually curtailed by a hamstring injury which has kept him out until this preseason period.

Stephenson is now raring to go with his new employers and according to the terms of the deal we can expect to see the young Englishman make an impact in the seasons ahead.

Liverpool retain 20 percent clause in Stephenson to Bolton deal

Because Richard Hughes according to the Athletic has inserted a 20 percent sell-on clause in the deal which took Stephenson to Bolton.

It means that should he go on - as expected - to impress for the Trotters then Liverpool stand to cash in all over again and probably for a bigger sum than the initial £700k which was brought in.

Given his attitude, workrate and the impression he’s left with fans at Dundee United, Stephenson has every chance of going on to play in the Premier League - albeit not with Liverpool.

It’s only a matter of times before bigger sides see what he can do - and Liverpool’s cash register will be ringing all over again for their committed youth-team product.