FORMER Liverpool midfielder Ben Woodburn, the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history, has joined League Two club Salford.
Woodburn scored on his second Reds appearance against Leeds aged 17 years and 45 days in 2016 but left Anfield in 2022.
He was unable to earn consistent first-team football and went out on four loans before being let go.
And now the 24-year-old has joined Salford – a team jointly-owned by Manchester United‘s legendary Class of ’92.
Woodburn signed a two-year deal with Salford after being released from Preston North End following 63 appearances this summer.
He will be reunited with Salford boss Karl Robinson – who managed him during his loan spell at Oxford.
Woodburn said: “Obviously, I have a bit of a connection as I played under the gaffer at Oxford, me and him got on really well.
“It was a bit of a pull to come here. I really enjoyed my time under Karl, it was a shame it got cut short with an injury that I had.
“But, I am just really excited to get back playing under him.”
“Most teams that I have been at, we’ve been pushing for the top end of the table, so hopefully we can do that here and get Salford back where they should be, near the top of the table.”
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The Ammies, co-owned by Gary Neville and other members of United’s famed Class of ’92, appointed Robinson in January.
Woodburn has managed 11 caps for Wales though the last of those came in 2021.
It has been a busy summer for Salford, who have already added to their ranks the likes of James Chester – a former United star – and Cole Stockton.
He joined Liverpool‘s under-7s where he steadily progressed through the youth ranks.
When he was 15 years old, Woodburn left his school, and was fast-tracked from Liverpool’s under-16s to the under-18s where his rapid development saw him included in Liverpool’s “Futures Group”.
Having impressed first-team manager Jurgen Klopp, Woodburn was handed his non-competitive debut during the 2016–17 pre-season in a 1–0 win over Tranmere Rovers.
He came off the bench in Liverpool’s next match to score one and assist another for Roberto Firmino in a 5–0 friendly win over Fleetwood Town.
Woodburn then, along with Kevin Stewart and fellow academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold, signed his first professional contract with Liverpool in November 2016.
He became Liverpool’s youngest goalscorer when he came off the bench to score in an EFL Cup quarter-final win over Leeds United, bettering Michael Owen‘s record by 98 days.
