{"id":467728,"date":"2026-03-10T12:12:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/467728\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:12:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:12:16","slug":"who-is-afolami-onanuga-the-teenage-star-arne-slot-called-up-before-galatasaray-vs-liverpool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/467728\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is Afolami Onanuga? The teenage star Arne Slot called up before Galatasaray vs Liverpool"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\/ Add as preferred source on Google <\/a> <\/p>\n

After previously being reluctant to give Liverpool youngsters a chance, Arne Slot is now looking at more Academy gems in recent months, with Afolami Onanuga the latest to get a call-up.<\/p>\n

Liverpool are facing Galatasaray<\/a> in the first of two last-16 Champions League<\/a> ties on the evening of March 10.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the clash, it has been reported by Lewis Bower<\/a> that Onanuga took part in first-team training this week, and we have taken a closer look at the young gem.<\/p>\n

DISCUSS: This is not the game for Rio Ngumoha, nor for the returning Florian Wirtz \ud83d\udc47 <\/p>\n

\"PredictedPredicted XI Liverpool vs Galatasaray Everything Liverpool fans need to know about Afolami Onanuga<\/p>\n

Onanuga, who also goes by the nickname \u2018Fola\u2019, has been a member of Liverpool\u2019s Academy<\/a> since linking up with their U11 side.<\/p>\n

He was first spotted by Ricky Heywood when playing grassroots football as a kid in Manchester.<\/p>\n

After many years in their youth ranks, Fola eventually signed his first professional contract with the Merseyside outfit in 2023.<\/p>\n

He has been described as a \u2018very interesting player<\/a>\u2018 but has so far struggled to break into the first team.<\/p>\n

The central midfielder, who has actually been used as a centre-forward in 2025\/26, has played 48 games at U18 level, scoring five and assisting three.<\/p>\n

Fola has since gone on to notch nine appearances for the U21s, including six this term, where he has netted once.<\/p>\n

However, the Englishman is yet to secure a single minute of football for the first team, though Slot\u2019s<\/a> decision to call him up does suggest that may change in the near future.<\/p>\n

We have already seen Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni and Kieran Morrison feature for Liverpool<\/a> in 2025\/26, and Fola could be the next name to secure a promotion, especially given he is very versatile and can offer cover in a lot of positions.<\/p>\n

As well as playing in his natural box-to-box role, the former England U15 player, who was capped once, can operate as a number 10, as a defensive midfielder, on both flanks and as a striker.<\/p>\n

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