Football
Glenn Price, Liverpool correspondent 5y

Liverpool sign defender Billy Koumetio, 16, from Orleans - source

Liverpool have completed the signing of 16-year-old French defender Billy Koumetio from US Orleans for a nominal fee, a source has told ESPN FC.

Koumetio spent a period on trial with Liverpool in 2018 and travelled with the under-17s squad to Berlin for friendlies in November.

The left-sided centre-back had been in the youth ranks at Lyon before making a switch to second-division side Orleans. He will begin his career at Liverpool in the U16s side.

Liverpool have made some notable additions to their academy in recent months.

They moved to acquire highly-rated Dutch youth international Ki-Jana Hoever from Ajax in the summer.

Hoever, 17, made his first-team debut earlier this month when he played at centre-half in the FA Cup defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Sources have told ESPN FC that Liverpool are hopeful the club's third-youngest ever player would sign a professional contract in the summer, having become eligible last week.

Meanwhile, Liverpool also signed Bobby Duncan, cousin of Steven Gerrard, from Manchester City, with the striker having scored 19 goals so far this season.

New York-born Matteo Rittacio, 17, signed a contract with the club this summer after making regular trips across the Atlantic since 2014 to train at the Kirkby academy.

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