Three of Liverpool’s Academy graduates have pledged their futures to Anfield.
Kevin Stewart, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn all signed long-term contracts with the Reds following their impressive first-team cameos.
Midfielder Stewart and promising right-back Alexander-Arnold both signed new five-year deals which will keep them on Merseyside until 2021.
Woodburn also committed his future to Liverpool with the striker penning a three-year deal until 2019 – the maximum limit for a 17-year-old.
Negotiations on safeguarding the trio’s future took place with the backing of Jurgen Klopp and the club’s new sporting director Michael Edwards.
And the Liverpool manager has hailed the development as an important step in preserving the pathway between the Academy and the first-team.
He said: “This is really positive news of course, and it’s brilliant we have acted decisively to show our intent with our young players.
“With Kev it is maybe a little different. He is of course established with us now and making a contribution as an important member of our first-team squad.
“Trent spends most of his time with the first team in this moment and is progressing each and every day.
“Ben is in those earlier stages and has a lot of developing to do still – but wow, what an exciting talent he is.
“The most important thing for us is the pathway to the first team.
“I think we have shown that with the work Alex [Inglethorpe] and his staff do at the Academy, we offer a clear pathway to first-team football if the players embrace what is on offer for them.
“I cannot praise them enough for the culture and environment they have there. It is perfect.
“The players know that it’s not just about ability: it’s application and a willingness to keep learning.
“All three of these players are big talents and are at different stages of their development.
“But it is development that is key and they must continue to learn and improve to achieve their full potential.
“News like today makes it exciting for me and the first-team staff that their development will continue with us at LFC.”