Liverpool youngster Ben Woodburn has completed a season-long loan move to Sheffield United, spurning interest from Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic.
Woodburn featured sporadically for the Reds’ academy sides last season, while training with the first team, and saw his development stall due to a lack of game time.
The Wales international played regularly throughout pre-season, with Jurgen Klopp stressing after Saturday’s 4-1 friendly win over Man United that he is “100 percent back.”
Despite this, it was deemed best for the 18-year-old that he depart on loan in order to gain first-team experience, and Woodburn didn’t travel with the Liverpool squad to Evian on Monday.
He was widely expected to join Villa for the 2018/19 campaign, but has instead sealed a switch to Bramall Lane.
There, he could fill the void left by compatriot David Brooks, who left the Blades to join Bournemouth at the beginning of July.
“Ben is a great signing for us, he is an exciting player with undoubted quality,” United manager Chris Wilder told sufc.co.uk.
“He’s been involved with Liverpool throughout their pre-season and I’m delighted they’ve trusted us with one of their outstanding young prospects, who is a full international as a teenager.
“It’s his first loan move and I’m sure it will be a great one for all parties.
“He makes goals and score goals with both feet, he can play in a couple of attacking positions and gives us flexibility at the top of the pitch.”
United begin their Championship campaign at home to newly relegated Swansea City on Saturday evening, where he could face off against ex-Reds forward Yan Dhanda.
Good luck, Ben!
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