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Arab Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Arab Times
Liverpool signs Egyptian youngster Karim Ahmed to first pro deal
LONDON, July 23: Liverpool, the reigning Premier League champions, announced yesterday on their official website that Egyptian youngster Karim Ahmed has signed his first professional contract with the club. Ahmed, who joined the club's academy at the age of six, made an instant impression when he scored on his debut for the U-18 side in an FA Youth Cup clash against Bournemouth in December 2022. A versatile player capable of operating as a forward or an attacking midfielder, Ahmed is praised for his creativity and ability to unlock defenses. Last season, he enjoyed a strong campaign with the U-18s, recording seven goals and five assists, and also appeared in UEFA Youth League matches against Bologna and RB Leipzig. Looking ahead, Ahmed will step up to Liverpool's U-21 squad for the 2025–26 season under the guidance of newly appointed head coach Rob Page, continuing his development within the club's youth structure.
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 days ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egyptian youth forward Kareem Ahmed signs 1st professional deal with Liverpool - Talents Abroad
Egyptian youth forward Kareem Ahmed has signed his first professional deal with Liverpool, the English Premer League side announced on Wednesday. The 18-year-old Ahmed, who can play as a forward or an attacking midfielder, has been at Liverpool Academy since the age of six. Ahmed is the second Egyptian player to sign a professional contract with Liverpool this year, following his teammate Alvin Ayman, who inked a deal last January, just five months after joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ahmed came under the spotlight after making an instant impact on his U18 debut in December 2022 by scoring in an FA Youth Cup game at AFC Bournemouth. During his participation with Liverpool's U18 team last season, the Egyptian player scored seven goals and provided five assists. He also made two appearances with the Young Reds in the UEFA Youth League against Bologna and RB Leipzig. According to Liverpool's official website, Ahmed will spend the new season (2025-2026) with the U21 team, led by new head coach Rob Page. At the international level, Ahmed was called up for training camp with the Egyptian youth team just once, in February 2022. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'My friend Joey Jones was great fighter on pitch and total gentleman off it'
Mirrorman remembers his late friend Joey Jones who died on Tuesday and his kindness back in 1983 Joey Jones was one of the nicest men I've ever met. We first met back in March 1983 when he bought me a few pints in a hotel bar in London. I knew he had been unwell in recent years but news of his death yesterday still came as a huge shock. I'd written to Joey when I was an 18-year-old journalism student asking if he would see me to discuss football hooliganism which blighted the game at at the time. He wrote back and agreed to see me and we spent four hours chatting about football in the bar of the Lily Hotel near Stamford Bridge when he was playing for Chelsea. I've still got the letter which in which he wrote: 'I'd be happy to meet you to talk about the problem of hooliganism. The best time for me would be a Thursday afternoon after training, if you can confirm which Thursday it would be let me know so that I can make arrangements. Cheers Joey Jones.' When we met he refused to let me buy a single drink. He attained legendary status at Liverpool and he was a cult hero at Chelsea. Anyone who was at the Chelsea FA Cup game against Huddersfield in January 1983 will remember him coming out after half-tine and going to every side of the stadium imploring the Chelsea fans to roar their side to victory We stayed in touch and loved talking about his time at Liverpool, Wrexham and Chelsea. His greatest friend was his old Chelsea team-mate Mickey Thomas. Another close friend Kelvin Barker said: 'Joey was my hero who became one of my closest friends. I will miss him terribly, but I thank him for everything he did for me, and everything he did for Chelsea Football Club. When I was writing my first book, Celery, I picked a Chelsea team of the 80s and set out to meet and interview each of those former players. "Joey was the first to respond and we met at Vicarage Road prior to a FA Youth Cup game when he was in charge of the Wrexham youngsters. In truth, we hit it off straight away and when I was leaving, he told me to go up to Wrexham and watch a game with him. I thought he was just being polite but he kept in touch and invited me again, and that was where the friendship began really, well over twenty years ago now.' Joey was a tough uncompromising player on pitch - even sent off on his debut for Chelsea - but an absolute gentleman off it.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Meet Arsenal wonderkid Marli Salmon, 15, dubbed ‘next Saliba' and on senior tour to Singapore as meteoric rise continues
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EVERY Gooner is well aware of Max Dowman's frightening potential by now. But they may be less clued up on the other 15-year-old wonderkid currently on Arsenal's tour of the Far East right now. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Mikel Arteta has taken rising star Marli Salmon on Arsenal's Asia tour Credit: Getty 9 The defender is still only 15 years old Credit: Getty 9 He has already played for the Under-21s Credit: Getty 9 The teenager has been dubbed the 'next Saliba' Credit: Getty Marli Salmon is the ball-playing centre-back who Mikel Arteta has included in his 30-man contingent for pre-season in Asia. The opportunity will see the teenager rub shoulders with his hero, William Saliba, and he may even get some minutes alongside the French powerhouse against AC Milan at 12.30pm on Wednesday. Photographs show Gunners boss Arteta instructing Salmon during a training session at Singapore's National Stadium. And the way Salmon is already taller than 5ft 9ins Arteta underlines his impressive physicality at such a tender age. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL YELLOW MOAN Fans horrified by club's new kit 'designed by Year 11 on work experience' The youngster joined Arsenal at Under-11 level and is being talked up as the most exciting defensive prospect emerging at Hale End in years. Salmon, who turns 16 on August 29, has had a rapid rise in the last 12 months. Having impressed for the Under-18s, the versatile defender made his first Emirates Stadium appearance in the FA Youth Cup against Manchester United. He was fast-tracked to the Under-21s last term, playing five times at that level despite still being a schoolboy. Salmon has also featured twice in the Uefa youth league and has been called up to the England under-16s. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Displaying a grace on the ball, running power and an excellent reading of the game, Arteta saw enough to take him on the Gunners' pre-tour camp to La Manga, Spain, and now to the Far East. Salmon, who recently signed a two-year scholarship with the North Londoners, is aware of the similarities between his own game and that of Arteta's best technical central defender. Arsenal fans convinced new transfer is done after star's 'message' in kit launch The youngster said: 'I look up to William Saliba, he's a good player. "There are a lot of attributes that match up with me so I look up to him.' Salmon is one of eight current Arsenal academy players in Arteta's Asian selection, with creative starlet Dowman the pick of the bunch. Others include recently-converted forward Andre Annous, 17, speedy winger Ismeal Kabia, 19, versatile full-back Josh Nichols, 18, box-to-box midfielder Louie Copley, 18, plus 19-year-old goalkeepers Tommy Setford and Alexei Rojas. Setford made a shock first-team debut against Preston in the Carabao Cup in October, keeping a clean sheet. Arsenal's pre-season fixtures Here are all of Arsenal's pre-season games before the return of the Premier League... Arsenal vs AC Milan, Singapore (July 23, 12.30pm) Arsenal vs Newcastle, Singapore (July 27, 12.30pm) Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur, Hong Kong (July 31, 12.30pm) Arsenal vs Villarreal, Emirates Stadium (August 6, 6pm) Arsenal vs Athletic Bilbao, Emirates Stadium (August 9, 5pm) 9 Marli Salmon plays for Arsenal U18 v Crystal Palace Credit: Getty 9 Arsenal wonderkid Marli Salmon models his game on William Saliba Credit: Getty 9 Max Downan has also been training with the first team squad Credit: Getty 9 Alan Smith believes the youngsters will benefit from the Asia Tour Credit: Getty But it is 15-year-old, 'Magic Max' Dowman who is generating the most buzz from his electric performances in the youth teams and a competitive first-team debut this term not only seems realistic, but expected. Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith, who netted 115 goals in eight seasons at the club in the late 1980s and early 1990s, winning two league titles, reckons Salmon and Dowman being on tour will prove invaluable to their development. Speaking to The Sun in association with William Hill, Smith said: 'For both youngsters, it's excellent experience to go on tour, it's amazing for them both to spend time with the first team, to train with them and learn from them. 'It's a good move from Mikel to take them both on tour. They will get massive exposure of what it's like to be with the first team for a significant period during the Asia tour. 'However, they are very unlikely to have game-time this season and Max especially is too young, he needs to be managed well, like Saka, Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly. 'Max has been in the headlines for some of his performances for the younger age groups and he will gain huge experience being with the squad. 'Arsenal must be careful with Max, but you have to trust Mikel Arteta to know when to put him in. You also have to be wary of fan expectation as he is very young, but obviously he has massive potential.' Salmon was also snapped vying for a ball with fellow Gunners youth product Ethan Nwaneri out in Singapore. It followed Nwaneri's younger brother Emerson turning out in Arsenal Under-18s' 2-0 defeat to the Dover Athletic first team on Saturday.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Meet Arsenal wonderkid Marli Salmon, 15, dubbed ‘next Saliba' and on senior tour to Singapore as meteoric rise continues
EVERY Gooner is well aware of Max Dowman's frightening potential by now. But they may be less clued up on the other 15-year-old wonderkid currently on Arsenal's 9 Mikel Arteta has taken rising star Marli Salmon on Arsenal's Asia tour Credit: Getty 9 The defender is still only 15 years old Credit: Getty 9 He has already played for the Under-21s Credit: Getty 9 The teenager has been dubbed the 'next Saliba' Credit: Getty Marli Salmon is the ball-playing centre-back who The opportunity will see the teenager rub shoulders with his hero, Photographs show Gunners boss Arteta instructing Salmon during a training session at Singapore's National Stadium. And the way Salmon is already taller than 5ft 9ins Arteta underlines his impressive physicality at such a tender age. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL The youngster joined Salmon, who turns 16 on August 29, has had a rapid rise in the last 12 months. Having impressed for the Under-18s, the versatile defender made his first Emirates Stadium appearance in the FA Youth Cup against Manchester United. He was fast-tracked to the Under-21s last term, playing five times at that level despite still being a schoolboy. Salmon has also featured twice in the Uefa youth league and has been called up to the Most read in Football JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Displaying a grace on the ball, running power and an excellent reading of the game, Arteta saw enough to take him on the Gunners' pre-tour camp to La Manga, Salmon, who recently signed a two-year scholarship with the North Londoners, is aware of the similarities between his own game and that of Arteta's best technical central defender. Arsenal fans convinced new transfer is done after star's 'message' in kit launch The youngster said: 'I look up to William Saliba, he's a good player. "There are a lot of attributes that match up with me so I look up to him.' Salmon is one of eight current Arsenal academy players in Arteta's Asian selection, with creative starlet Dowman the pick of the bunch. Others include recently-converted forward Andre Annous, 17, speedy winger Ismeal Kabia, 19, versatile full-back Josh Nichols, 18, box-to-box midfielder Louie Copley, 18, plus 19-year-old goalkeepers Tommy Setford and Alexei Rojas. Setford made a shock first-team debut against Preston in the Carabao Cup in October, keeping a clean sheet. Arsenal's pre-season fixtures Here are all of Arsenal's pre-season games before the return of the Premier League... Arsenal vs AC Milan, Singapore (July 23, 12.30pm) Arsenal vs Newcastle, Singapore (July 27, 12.30pm) Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur, Hong Kong (July 31, 12.30pm) Arsenal vs Villarreal, Emirates Stadium (August 6, 6pm) Arsenal vs Athletic Bilbao, Emirates Stadium (August 9, 5pm) 9 Marli Salmon plays for Arsenal U18 v Crystal Palace Credit: Getty 9 Arsenal wonderkid Marli Salmon models his game on William Saliba Credit: Getty 9 Max Downan has also been training with the first team squad Credit: Getty 9 Alan Smith believes the youngsters will benefit from the Asia Tour Credit: Getty But it is 15-year-old, 'Magic Max' Dowman who is generating the most buzz from his electric performances in the youth teams and a competitive first-team debut this term not only seems realistic, but expected. Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith, who netted 115 goals in eight seasons at the club in the late 1980s and early 1990s, winning two league titles, reckons Salmon and Dowman being on tour will prove invaluable to their development. Speaking to The Sun in association with 'It's a good move from Mikel to take them both on tour. They will get massive exposure of what it's like to be with the first team for a significant period during the Asia tour. 'However, they are very unlikely to have game-time this season and Max especially is too young, he needs to be managed well, like Saka, Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly. 'Max has been in the headlines for some of his performances for the younger age groups and he will gain huge experience being with the squad. 'Arsenal must be careful with Max, but you have to trust Mikel Arteta to know when to put him in. You also have to be wary of fan expectation as he is very young, but obviously he has massive potential.' Salmon was also snapped vying for a ball with fellow Gunners youth product It followed Nwaneri's younger brother Emerson turning out in Arsenal Under-18s' 2-0 defeat to the Dover Athletic first team on Saturday. 9
