18-year-old Liverpool Star Set for Major Breakthrough Season Under Arne Slot | OneFootball

Has Liverpool Found a Long-Term Midfield Option in Trey Nyoni?

As the 2025/26 season kicks off with Liverpool looking to defend their Premier League crown and attain number 21, the conversation is shifting from not just winning again — but sustaining success across the next cycle and beyond. Much of the summer focus has been on defensive planning and the reshaping of the forward line, with wonderful signings aplenty. But quietly, perhaps under the radar, Trey Nyoni’s name has emerged as a serious long-term midfield consideration under Arne Slot, especially in the last few days.

The teenager, who only turned 18 this summer, impressed significantly during Liverpool’s pre-season campaign. His development has accelerated to such an extent that he now looks set to remain part of the senior squad — at least until January when a loan may become necessary. And the most exciting part is that no one’s quite sure what his final role will be… because he might be able to do it all.

From Prospect to Potential Key Player

Nyoni’s talent has never been in doubt, but the maturity he’s displayed throughout the summer has been the real standout. Slot used the England youth international in multiple roles during pre-season, most notably dropping him into a ball-playing central defensive position — a brave choice that yielded impressive results. Calm in possession, positionally disciplined, and unafraid to play progressive passes, Nyoni’s performances hinted at an intelligence well beyond his years. Confidence can often lead to mistakes, yet calm can sometimes lead to something else entirely.

With Liverpool’s midfield unit largely built around a dynamic rotation of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, and Ryan Gravenberch, there isn’t necessarily an immediate need to throw Nyoni into the starting mix. However, the sporadic moments that may be rewarded and cup games that can see him start may well lead to more prominence, which he seems likely to take in his impressive stride.

Arne Slot appears to value his versatility and ball security, and while a loan move in January remains a strong possibility if minutes dry up, there’s every indication that Liverpool wants to keep a close eye on his development from within and learn from the elite assets around him.

A Future Successor to Mac Allister… or Endō?

What makes Trey Nyoni such a compelling figure for Liverpool’s long-term planning is his tactical fluidity. At academy level, he has often played as a No.8 — dictating tempo and progressing play with a demand for the ball. But as seen in pre-season, there’s a deeper layer to his game that opens the door to him potentially being moulded into a No.6, particularly as Wataru Endō enters the final 18 months of his time at the top level. There is a clear need to address this area and perhaps the biggest indicator as to why a new specialist hasn’t been attained is that one is being moulded within.

Mac Allister remains the heartbeat of Slot’s system, offering metronomic control in possession and positional intelligence in deep areas. He stands as the Premier League’s best midfield player and perhaps the best in for role in all of world football. But if Liverpool are serious about evolving the role internally rather than spending £70–£80 million on someone like Adam Wharton next summer, Nyoni becomes an incredibly valuable asset, one that can offer far more than a screening ability. He’s tall, physically growing, and already has the poise and vision needed to play under pressure.

It’s possible — even likely — that Slot will trial Nyoni in multiple roles in domestic cups and Europa League group games to test his suitability. Whether as a long-term Mac Allister heir, a progressive deep-lying playmaker, or even a hybrid No.6/No.8 option, the groundwork is being laid now and multiple avenues explored. The club may have stumbled across a diamond they don’t need to polish elsewhere.

A Measured Rise, Not a Media Frenzy

Unlike many young English prospects, Trey Nyoni hasn’t yet been thrown into the limelight — and that suits both him and Liverpool perfectly. The post-Klopp era is already proving to be more deliberate and development-focused. Arne Slot values calmness under pressure and technical assurance. In Nyoni, he sees a player who can be taught and guided within the first-team structure, rather than cast aside on multiple loans.

The early signs are that Liverpool will give the teenager real opportunities over the next few months, with a January loan only occurring if meaningful minutes don’t materialise. If his progression continues, there’s a real chance the club will look at him as a medium-term solution to midfield succession planning.

Trey Nyoni may not be the name that captures back-page headlines just yet — but inside the walls of the AXA Training Centre, he’s starting to look like one of Liverpool’s most valuable long-term investments, which is an intriguing idea indeed.