There’s yet another young Irish player choosing to move out of the Premier League to find regular first-team football on the continent.
It’s been a growing trend since Brexit, and we’ve seen with the likes of Troy Parrott and Jake O’Brien that getting regular first-team minutes with European sides has revitalised stagnating careers.
It can also be used to help players break onto the scene in senior football, as we’ve seen with several English players like Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke and Jude Bellingham.
Trent Kone-Doherty. Pic: Annabel Lee-Ellis/Getty Images
There have been a few young Irish players who’ve made the step to Europe, like Evan Ferguson and Andrew Omobamidele, and now there’s one very exciting winger who’s left the Premier League to concentrate on first-team football.
Republic of Ireland U21s winger Trent Kone-Doherty has departed Liverpool in an exciting move to Norwegian side Molde FK in a permanent move.
The Derry-born winger moved to the current Premier League holders in July 2022 for a reported £150,000 and has made two first-team appearances in that team, in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. For Liverpool’s youth teams, he’s flourished, scoring 3 goals in the UEFA Youth League so far this season.
Trent Kone-Doherty. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
However, the 19-year-old is now looking for some regular first-team minutes by making the move to Norway, whose transfer window is still open due to their league only starting on March 14.
With the Champions League exploits of Bodø/Glimt, who just knocked Inter Milan out of the competition, the level of competition is higher than many people would presume. IN fact, Bodø/Glimt didn’t even win the league last season, with Viking Stavanger winning their ninth title.
Reports indicate that the Reds are reluctant to let Trent Kone-Doherty go, but hopefully, this gamble pays off for the youngster, and he can gain some valuable experience in Scandinavia.