Liverpool sign Rhian Brewster Reds manager Klopp describes the UK-born player with TC and British roots as ‘one of the brightest young talents’
A FOOTBALLER with Turkish Cypriot and British family roots has signed to play for Liverpool in his first professional contract.
London-based Rhian Brewster, 18, a striker who arrived at the Reds from Chelsea’s youth team in 2015, has been described by Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp as “one of the brightest young talents” at the club’s Kirkby Academy, which plans to fast-track him to senior level in the coming months.
There had been doubts as to whether the young striker would commit his future to the club, with speculation that he might follow the trend of youthful English talent searching for first-team action in Germany’s Bundesliga.
Mr Brewster told club website Liverpoolfc.com: “It feels great. I’ve wanted to do this for a very long time now and I think it’s the right moment for me and my family. I’m looking forward to getting fit and making some appearances.
“Since I got here the club has been amazing to me and treated me like family. It seems like I’ve been here my whole life, to be honest. It’s coming up to my fifth season now. I [still] remember my first training session. It’s amazing and I can’t wait to get started.”
Mum Hülya Hassan, whose family originate from the North Cyprus village of Kaleburnu and now live in Essex, told Cyprus Today she was the “proudest mother in the world” at seeing her son sign his contract with Liverpool.
“It’s amazing to see my son not only become so successful, but also to be an inspiration to others in the Turkish community in the UK as to what can be achieved through hard work and determination,” she said.
Mr Brewster is yet to make his Premier League debut but was named on the substitutes bench by Klopp as early as April 23, 2017 against Crystal Palace. He has been out of action since January after suffering ankle ligament damage in an under-23s match against Manchester City, while in March he underwent a second operation to correct a knee injury picked up in the same incident.