
Anfield Index
·26 March 2025
Liverpool move to protect promising talent with first pro contract

Anfield Index
·26 March 2025
Sometimes, it’s the quiet ones who make the loudest impact. Clae Ewing hasn’t exactly been shouting his name across the Kop just yet, but those who’ve watched Liverpool’s academy this season know the lad’s got something. Now, he’s signed his first professional contract—one more step along the well-worn path from Kirkby to the senior squad.
Ewing’s campaign ended early due to injury, a frustrating setback for the 18-year-old who had been steadily climbing the ranks. But it wasn’t enough to halt his momentum. Liverpool have rewarded the left-back’s progress with a pro deal, the club clearly impressed by his maturity and performances during 2024/25.
He began the season as a second-year scholar, but quickly made the U18s left-back spot his own. February saw him earn his U21 debut, and a further step up came in the UEFA Youth League where he featured for the U19s in a spirited, if unsuccessful, outing against Stuttgart.
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Ewing isn’t just a full-back in the traditional sense. He’s been used in midfield too—slotting in as a No. 8 when needed—and that kind of adaptability will serve him well under a manager like Arne Slot, whose emphasis on positional flexibility and fluid systems could suit the teenager down to the ground.
It’s no surprise that he’s being closely monitored by the likes of Barry Lewtas and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson at Kirkby, with assistant manager Aaron Briggs also playing a key role in bridging the academy and first-team communication.
With uncertainty over the futures of Owen Beck, Luke Chambers, and even Andy Robertson, there may yet be a door ajar for Ewing. For now, though, it’s about recovery. Getting fit. Getting ready. Because once the summer rolls around, Liverpool will be watching closely to see who’s ready to make a statement.