Liverpool is working to secure the future of highly-touted academy prospect Erik farkas, with the 16-year-old now eligible to sign a professional contract. The young midfielder, who has represented both England and Hungary at youth levels, has drawn comparisons to Jude Bellingham due to his versatility and vision. as multiple European clubs express interest, Liverpool officials are keen to retain a player they believe has a clear path to the first team – a rare trajectory for academy graduates at Anfield.
Liverpool FC officials have made it clear they are determined to retain Erik Farkas, a highly-rated prospect from their Kirkby academy. The 16-year-old talent, currently representing England’s youth national teams – where he recently scored his first goal for the English youth squad – is now eligible to sign a professional pre-contract according to FA regulations, and the Premier League champions are reportedly moving to secure his future.
As previously reported, the midfielder began his career with SZEOL in Szeged before joining Liverpool’s academy in 2021 at age 11, following a family relocation to the UK where his talent quickly caught the eye of local scouts.
Sources indicate Liverpool see a clear pathway for the 16-year-old to integrate into the first team within a few seasons – a rare distinction within the club’s youth system. Over the past decade, only two academy graduates who spent at least three years continuously within the Liverpool setup have established themselves in the Premier League squad: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones. Others have joined the academy at age 16 or later, often with a transfer fee or compensation involved. A recent example is Rio Ngumoha, who has become a rising star for the club this season.
The young midfielder is increasingly being compared to Jude Bellingham, a 22-year-old who has already earned 43 caps for the England national team. Both players possess the versatility to excel in multiple positions across the midfield – as a holding midfielder, box-to-box player, or attacking playmaker – a quality highly valued by coaches, including those at Kirkby.
Under current FA rules, players can sign their first professional contracts at age 17. Pre-contracts offer a degree of security for both clubs and players, ensuring a deal is finalized when the player reaches the eligible age. Consequently, negotiations can be complex and drawn-out.
Erik Farkas began the 2025-2026 season playing for Liverpool’s U18 team, two years above his age group. Despite a minor injury setback, his performances earned him a spot in the England U17 squad – where he registered two assists in three matches, including a game against Germany – and a debut with Liverpool’s U21 team in September. He was also recently named to the squad for the club’s U19 team in the UEFA Youth League. His talent has even garnered attention from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, according to a previous interview.
Discussions surrounding the midfielder’s development and potential future were featured in the latest episode of the Index Sportcast. Bence Bocsák, a UK-based writer for World Soccer magazine, emphasized the need for Liverpool’s leadership to act decisively to secure the academy star’s commitment. He reports that several English clubs, as well as top teams from Spain, Portugal, and Germany, have expressed interest in the player.
(Cover image: Erik Farkas in action during an U19 match against Everton at Kirkby. Photo: Nick Taylor / Getty Images Hungary)
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