Liverpool are facing a battle to retain one of their most promising young talents, 15-year-old Joshua Abe, amid interest from Chelsea and Arsenal. The winger, who was born in July 2010, has made five appearances for Liverpool's Under-18s this season, scoring two goals and providing two assists. He is also an England Under-16s international and has featured once for the Under-21s.
According to reports, Chelsea's interest in Abe has been described as a 'revenge mission' following Rio Ngumoha's move from Chelsea to Liverpool in 2024. Ngumoha, now 17, swapped Stamford Bridge for Anfield, leading Chelsea to ban Liverpool scouts from attending academy games at their Cobham training base.
Abe has not yet signed a scholarship contract with Liverpool, and several top clubs, including Arsenal, are monitoring his situation. It is believed that Abe's father is a lifelong Arsenal fan, which could influence any potential move. Poaching players at this age is common, and Liverpool's current youth sides include players from other academies.
The online account Secret Scout, which has 253,000 followers, described Abe as 'the BEST winger in the country at this age,' a notable endorsement given the progress of Arsenal's 15-year-old Max Dowman. Liverpool academy star Ngumoha has already made seven appearances for the Reds this season, including one in the Champions League, and scored on his Premier League debut against Newcastle.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised Ngumoha's confidence and finishing ability after his debut goal, noting, 'How firm his shot was, you don't see this often for a 16-year-old.' The club will hope to secure Abe's future to avoid losing another top prospect.
