Don't miss the big Liverpool FC stories by getting our newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Liverpool have secured the services of one of the most exciting young strikers in English football.

Bobby Duncan has signed a three-year professional contract after a compensation package was agreed with Manchester City.

The 17-year-old England youth international will start pre-season at the Academy next week and the hope is that he will go on to make the leap to Melwood.

What's his background?

Born in Whiston, Duncan grew up in Huyton and now lives with his family in Prescot. He's a lifelong Liverpool fan.

He's the cousin of Steven Gerrard and grew up desperate to emulate the achievements of the Kop icon.

"My dad used to give me a DVD to go and watch in the car and it had all of Steven’s goals on it,” Duncan told the ECHO back in 2016.

"I used to watch that over and over again thinking ‘one day that could be me’. I’ve always looked up to Steven. I’m related to him and like me he’s a local kid from Huyton.

"Steven’s been a big influence. What he achieved in his career inspires me. He always had that hunger and desire to win trophies. As well as talent, it was his attitude, character and leadership that made him the player he was."

Where has he played his football?

Duncan first caught the eye of professional clubs when he was a prolific goal scorer playing for Mossley Hill at the age of seven. He spent time at both Liverpool and Everton but neither signed him up. Instead he ended up getting taken on by Wigan Athletic, who spotted him in action for St Helens Town. After 18 months with the Latics, Duncan was snapped up by Manchester City at the age of 10.

During his time at Cardinal Heenan School in West Derby he led them to national cup glory as his 24-goal haul broke the national schoolboys record. He also shattered the Huyton Schoolboys record previously held by Peter Reid.

Cardinal Heenan players earned the right to represent England at Wembley in the Danone Nations Cup in 2013 and Duncan collected the Golden Boot from the legendary Zinedine Zidane.

Duncan later went to St Bede’s College, an independent school that Manchester City have a link up with.

How did he do at Man City?

Duncan rose through the ranks and plundered a remarkable 66 goals in the 2015/16 season and continued to shine for both club and country.

However, he grew frustrated with a lack of opportunities and felt his pathway to the first team was blocked. City were desperate to keep him and offered him a lucrative professional contract but he decided not to sign it.

Duncan left City last August but with them retaining his registration he found himself without a club last season.

After a lengthy stand-off and with Duncan having effectively lost a year of his career, City finally agreed to his wish to negotiate a compensation fee with Liverpool, which is understood to be around £200,000.

Duncan posted on social media: "It was a difficult decision for me and my family but the time is right for a new challenge and fulfil my dreams and potential elsewhere.”

What about on the international front?

Duncan is highly rated at St George's Park. In December 2016 he became the first England player at any level to ever score a hat-trick against Brazil. He achieved the feat during a thrilling 4-3 victory in an under-16s international at the Granja Comary complex, Brazil’s national training centre.

“When I heard that it had never been done before against Brazil, I was buzzing. It was an unbelievable feeling,” he told the ECHO.

“I’ve broken a lot of records in my life but nothing as big as that. I thought about the likes of Shearer, Gerrard, Owen and Fowler – all big players who have come up through the England junior ranks.

(Image: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

“It had never been done before and to think that some kid from Huyton has now done it is amazing. Both sets of players signed the match ball for me and I’ll always treasure that.”

Even when he was without a club last season, Duncan was still selected by England Under-17s boss Steve Cooper. He helped them reach the last four of last month's UEFA European Championships, scoring in the quarter-final win over Norway.

What are his prospects at Liverpool?

Duncan will start off with Barry Lewtas' under-18s squad at the Academy and is bound to need time to get up to speed having missed so much football over the past year.

He retained his fitness last season by training with Wigan's first-team squad.

Liverpool are excited to have him on board and believe he has the potential to progress quickly through the ranks. He was also coveted by the likes of Tottenham, Juventus, Monaco and Roma.

Aside from being a lifelong fan, Duncan was attracted to Liverpool by the fact that there is a clear pathway for youngsters under Jurgen Klopp.

Fellow teenage frontman Rhian Brewster has been promoted to the first-team set-up by Klopp and Duncan will look to follow the same path.