Preston North End snaps up Liverpool striker Layton Stewart

Preston North End has confirmed the signing of young Liverpool striker Layton Stewart on a three-year contract.

Stewart, 20, has made his debut appearance for his new club in a 2-0 pre-season friendly win against Aberdeen a few hours after signing. 

Stewart rose through the ranks of Liverpool's academy, representing the U18s, U19s, and U21s teams. 

He fulfilled a dream when he started for Jürgen Klopp’s senior Liverpool side against Derby County in the Carabao Cup last November, after overcoming a long-term ACL injury.

Stewart is now set to start a new chapter in his career at Preston North End.

He departs Liverpool, a club he has been associated with since the tender age of seven. Another Liverpool player, Calvin Ramsay, is already at Deepdale on loan.

On his move, Stewart expressed his excitement, “I’m delighted to be here. It’s another step in my career, on my journey, so I think it’s the right move for my development to try and get some first team football. I’m delighted it’s a permanent because I can get settled in, start to find my feet and I can’t wait to meet the lads and play."

Stewart realizes the challenges he's going to face in his career and the importance of his new journey.

"I’ve scored at youth level but I’ve got to take it into a first team environment now and try and do it for Preston in the games that I play in," he said.

Preston North End manager, Ryan Lowe, commended the acquisition of the young striker, saying, “Layton’s a player I’ve monitored and known for many years at Liverpool and I’m really glad we’ve got him in on a permanent deal. It’s important to have one of our own and tied down to a long-term contract so we can really develop him and hopefully turn him into a top player."

Lowe emphasized that Stewart will need to adjust to Championship football and said, “What I will say is we’ll take our time with him and build him up. He’s a fox in the box and more importantly he’s a real goalscorer. He’ll learn loads here and we feel we can get him in the right areas to give him the chances we know he can put away.”