Liverpool starlet Harvey Elliott signed his first professional this afternoon.The 17-year-old wonderkid - who has played eight times for Liverpool’s first-team - put pen to paper on a reported three-year-deal at Anfield.Afterwards, he spoke of his delight."I think since the first day I've walked in, it's been an indescribable journey so far," he said."I think now to top it off with my first professional contract is a dream come true for me and my family."I'm excited to see what the future holds and I'm just excited to give everything to the club and the fans."But who really is Harvey Elliott? He’s obviously extremely highly-rated by the Premier League champions but many fans - even Liverpool fans - may not know too much about him.So here are 11 things that you may not have known about him:
His new deal is worth £20,000-per-week
It’s believed Elliott has signed a contract worth £20,000-per-week. Not bad for a 17-year-old!
Youngest Premier League player ever
Ok, you probably knew this one. Elliott made history when he came off the bench for Fulham at the age of 16 years and 30 days old in May 2019.
He's a special talent
Just ask the man who gave him his professional debut - Scott Parker.
“He is a technically gifted football player,” Parker said. “A special talent. He has got a naturalness about him, an ease. He is very clean with the ball, can handle the ball very well for someone so young.
“Harvey has played all his career with kids his own age and now is probably the first time he is playing against men. Often you find that transition is very difficult for young players.
“But with him you wouldn’t know and that’s probably the sign of a top player or someone who has the ability to be a top player because the transition he has made has been very smooth.”
He’s a huge Liverpool fan
Elliott went to his first Liverpool match as a fan when he was just three. He also travelled to Kiev to watch the 2018 Champions League final.
He hates Sergio Ramos
Following that final in Kiev, Elliott was invited to Real Madrid’s training ground as they showed interest in the winger. And when he was offered the chance to meet Real captain Sergio Ramos, Elliott replied: “No, it’s OK, thanks. I don’t like him after what he did to Mo Salah.”
He scored an incredible overhead kick for Liverpool U23s
Ever seen this goal he scored for Liverpool U23’s? Take a bow…
Set to be the youngest Premier League winner ever
Elliott needs just three more Premier League appearances to earn himself a Premier League winners’ medal.
If Klopp gives him those appearances, he’d break Phil Foden’s record of the youngest ever Premier League winner.
He gave a desperate young pitch invader his shirt
Elliott was the best player on the pitch against MK Dons earlier in the season in the Carabao Cup. He was so good that a young Liverpool fan ran onto the pitch at full-time to get his shirt. Already a hero to young supporters.
He wowed staff in his first training session
According to James Pearce in The Athletic, Liverpool staff were “wowed” by Elliott in his very first training session. Assistant manager Pep Lijnders recalls sitting down with Klopp to discuss the previous hour. “We were like, ‘OK, that’s quite impressive for a 16-year-old. When we do the counter-press rondo you see straight away if a player can handle the speed and the decision-making because there’s such a small space in which to play our game.
“What a surprise he was when he came for the first sessions. Some players, they play as if they are already, say, 28 or 29. He’s a player who sees so much around him before things happen. Everyone sees what a great player he is but behind that player is a great human being and a great addition to our squad. He’s our little diamond of the team.”
He smashed the toilet roll challenge
Remember when doing kick-ups with a toilet roll was a thing? Rumour has it that everyone stopped after Elliott’s attempt because he absolutely smashed it...
Harry Kane video
Despite all the positives on the pitch, the youngster learned the dangers of social media after using derogatory language about Harry Kane, filmed during last season’s Champions League final.
He was banned from football for 14 days, fined £350 and had to complete a Football Association education course.
“I would just like to wholeheartedly apologise for any offence caused on the back of a video of me currently circulating on the internet,” Elliot said afterwards.
“The video was taken whilst messing around with friends in a private environment and was not directed at any individual but I realise that my actions were both immature and senseless.
“I would like to stress that the contents of the video do not represent who I am as a person or how I’ve been brought up, and I truly am sorry.”
