Attacking midfielder Cameron Brannagan has quit Liverpool to join Oxford United, it has been announced.
The League One club announced on their official website and social media channels on Thursday afternoon that Brannagan has been secured as a new signing after arriving from the Premier League giants.
The 21-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Oxford after deciding to end his lengthy stay at Liverpool, who he joined at the age of five.
United are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Cameron Brannagan (@Cameron246bran) from @LFC for an undisclosed fee #OUFC
??https://t.co/vc6drodxUf pic.twitter.com/yJg2i3IjVX— Oxford United FC (@OUFCOfficial) January 11, 2018
Clotet had been keen to add technical players to his squad as they push for promotion to the Championship and the youngster, a regular scorer for Liverpool at Under-23s level, where his 71 matches have yielded 13 goals, fits the bill.
Brannagan made nine senior appearances for the Reds in total, all of which came during the 2015-16 season, but he has subsequently slipped down the pecking order.
Good move for Liverpool?
It is always a disappointment when an academy product in whom so much hope and time has been invested drops down the leagues after failing to make the grade at a leading Premier League club. But competition is intense at Anfield, and there are no guarantees even for a player who once attracted interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona, and who Jurgen Klopp once said has “everything you need” in a midfield player. There will be regrets at Liverpool that it has not worked out, but there is plenty of time on Brannagan’s side and he can carve out a fine career in the lower leagues, where his technical quality and ability to create and score goals can come to the fore. Oxford have landed themselves a potential gem.