EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool Youngster Weighing Up Reds Exit
By Ben Shaw
According to our sources, Liverpool youngster Trey Nyoni is assessing his options following limited first team minutes during the 25-26 campaign. The Leicester-born midfielder has accumulated just 184 minutes of game time during a difficult season for The Reds, 180 of these coming from EFL Cup ties in the 2-1 victory over Southampton in August and the 0-3 dismantling from Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Trey Nyoni - Then to Now
Credit: DaveOCKOP
Trey Nyoni has been hailed a promising future prospect for Liverpool since his full graduation to the First Team in 2024 after signing his first professional contract with the club. Before that, he had played 12 professional minutes in a 3-0 win over Southampton in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup in 2023. Just 4 months after his contract signing though, he got his moment as a used substitute in the Champions League fixture against PSV Eindhoven. This game was for all intents and purposes a dead rubber game for Liverpool, as they had already comfortably qualified for the Round of 16 stage and were set to finish top of the group phase, however Nyoni's appearance off the bench at 17 years and 213 days made him the club’s youngest-ever player in European competition at the time.
The summer window was a busy one for Liverpool, including the departures of other younger talent in the squad such as Jarell Quansah and more notably Harvey Elliott who was ahead of him in the pecking order for rotational midfield options. Fellow academy graduates Tyler Morton and Bobby Clark have also left the club since Arne Slot took the helm with similar profiles to Nyoni. Acquisitions such as Florian Wirtz alongside the stand out performances from Dominik Szoboszlai has kept the teenager waiting for his big break though.
Nyoni made his Premier League debut in December, nearly a full calendar year after his singular appearance for Liverpool in the Champions League, in a late change during a dramatic 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur before being brought off the bench once again late on against Wolverhampton Wanderers a week later. Yet, the minutes have been few and far between aside from that. Arne Slot admitting himself that his treatment of the 19 year-old was harsh.
“I feel really sorry for Trey because maybe it was my mistake but at 2-1, I thought I had to make the substitutions to win the game instead of giving a young player who is training so hard every single day and is such a big talent the playing time he might deserve." said Slot after bringing on Trey Nyoni late on in The Reds unconvincing 4-1 victory over Barnsley in the Third Round of the FA Cup last week.
Nyoni has featured as a substitute for Liverpool 14 times in all competitions so far this season, only achieving minutes in the previously mentioned Premier League and FA Cup wins at late stages to see matches out rather than make a meaningful impact from the bench.
The Situation
Credit: Liverpool.com
Sources at RedRondo understand that Liverpool are committed to keeping the young midfielder, despite his lack of use at the half-way point in the season as they view Nyoni as a key player for long-term plans at the club. With Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch all entering contract renewal talks at the club, it may be a little while longer until Nyoni could hope to be a frequent starter for the team he joined in 2023 at 16 years-old.
It is understood that Nyoni is "disgruntled and open to move". With the rise of Rio Ngumoha's game time for Liverpool, it is apparent that Slot does trust youth in making an impact. Trey has yet to be put into this bracket.
After signing a new long-term deal in the summer, Trey Nyoni was aware that the situation wouldn't change overnight saying “I’m still young, there’s a lot of improvement. That’s the most important thing. I just have to repay them in that way.” We understand that the midfielder is not actively pushing for a move or causing the club any headaches. Like any young player, he wants to play. It begs the question as to whether a resolution can be made with Liverpool in the current situation they find themselves? 4th in the Premier League and only 3 points clear of Sunderland in 9th this isn't the ideal time for Arne Slot to start experimenting youth. But with minutes few and far between, Trey Nyoni has a big decision to make in the next few weeks.