Liverpool's first buy for next season

• zocoss

  29 Apr 10, 09:39

  YOUNGSTER SIGNS UP

  Liverpool tie up Shelvey deal

   

   

   

  

  Jonjo Shelvey is one of the brightest talents outside the Premier League

   

   

  Liverpool have sealed a £1.7 million deal to sign Charlton Athletic's highly-rated youngster Jonjo Shelvey.

   

  The England Under-17 international, tipped as one of the hottest prospects outside of the Premier League, passed a medical and agreed personal terms on Tuesday and will complete his move to Anfield on May 10.

  "Jonjo is an exciting young England international," Liverpool's managing director Christian Purslow told the club's official website. "His signing is part of our long-term strategic recruitment plan and we all look forward to welcoming him to Melwood (training ground)."

  The initial fee for Shelvey, 18, could rise depending on a number of potential add-ons, relating to domestic and international appearances.

  Shelvey made his first-team debut for Charlton aged just 16 years and 59 days - becoming the club's youngest ever player, and he has scored four goals from midfield in 27 appearances this season.

  Charlton chairman Richard Murray told the club's website: "It's with the greatest reluctance that we have accepted an offer for Jonjo from Liverpool. No club likes to lose such a talented prospect, but the overall package is one we couldn't refuse, and one which was very attractive to Jonjo.

  "As a club, we have never stood in the way of any of our young players moving to 'bigger' clubs, and this also applies to Jonjo. Liverpool are going to develop him over the next few years to be a top player, and I can't think of a better place for him to go."

  The two clubs also revealed that they are in talks over "a strategic partnership involving the development of players in both directions" following Shelvey's move to the Premier League.

• Y_Shun

  29 Apr 10, 13:48

  Lets see if the youngster can make it big... I think with Rafa as manager, he will probably not promote any Liverpool youngsters...

  He actually rejected Chelsea when he was 17 years old.

   

• CKeer

  29 Apr 10, 13:56

  He's not bad in Football Manager leh. Not sure how well he'll do in real life.

• Rooney9

  29 Apr 10, 14:05

  good young players dun come cheap. if he was that good, u will see the other top 3 clubs coming for him liao.

• As romanista2001

  29 Apr 10, 15:02

  either he's Rafa's new flop signing for next season or his very last flop signing.............

• dragg

  30 Apr 10, 08:36

  highly rated but 1.7 mill?