Keyrol Figueroa, son of former Premier League player Maynor, earned his first professional deal with Liverpool FC.
Keyrol Figueroa is the latest Liverpool prodigy to sign his first professional deal with the club.
The 17-year-old, son of former Wigan Athletic and Hull City star Maynor Figueroa, joined the Reds at Under-14s level and has since established himself as a prolific, versatile forward in Liverpool’s youth ranks, scoring 90 goals in one season for the Reds Under-13s and Under-14s.
While he has missed much of the season due to injuries and international service, the teenager made his most recent return by scoring off the bench in the Under-18s’ 4-2 defeat to Wolves at the end of last month. Figueroa has three goals and two assists in nine games for the Under-18s this season, including the U18 Premier League and FA Youth Cup.
The forward has yet to break into the Under-21s, but he has established himself on the international stage with the United States. As an Under-17s international, he scored seven goals to help his team reach the final of last year’s CONCACAF U17 Championship, and he also scored once in the Under-17s World Cup, which the USA lost to Germany in the round of 16.
He made his Liverpool Under-18s debut as a 15-year-old in October 2021 and quickly established himself in Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s squad after returning from the CONCACAF U17 Championships the previous season.
When he returned against Nottingham Forest, he scored (his first at the level) and assisted in a 2-2 tie, earning his first start. He would later score a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Wolves, finishing the U18 Premier League season with four goals and three assists in seven games.
Meanwhile, Figueroa made his UEFA Youth League debut with Liverpool Under-19s in March 2023, when they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Sporting Lisbon. With the Reds’ first squad already confirmed for next season’s Champions League, the 17-year-old will want to make an impact in the Youth League next season.
His occasional performances have piqued the eye of one prominent fan, with Antoine Griezmann, who wants to be an agent after he retires, taking an active interest in the young forward’s development.
In 2022, a source close to the Figueroa family told the Daily Star, “Keyrol is amazed whenever Antoine gets in touch.” He loves it. Antoine has taken on the role of a mentor for the child, providing encouragement via WhatsApp.
“It’s fantastic for him to have one of football’s best attackers monitoring his growth. It’s a massive boost.”
Figueroa, who has returned from injury, will seek to finish the season strong and, after signing his first professional contract, follow in the footsteps of fellow Liverpool teenage forward Jayden Danns by advancing to the Under-21s in the not-too-distant future.
