Liverpool Confirm Squad for Japan Tour Featuring Senior and U15 Fixtures | OneFootball

Liverpool Confirm Squad for Japan Tour as U15s Join Senior Setup

Youth Given Centre Stage in Japan Showcase

Liverpool’s summer plans have taken another step forward with confirmation that both the senior side and the U15s will head to Japan as part of a wider Asian tour. In a schedule combining elite competition and grassroots development, Arne Slot’s squad will travel east for a set of highly anticipated fixtures including games in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Before arriving in Japan, the senior squad will meet AC Milan at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on Saturday 26 July. Four days later, attention will shift to Yokohama, where the Reds will face off against J.League champions Yokohama F. Marinos at Nissan Stadium.

While the marquee matches will draw global attention, it is the involvement of Liverpool’s U15s that signals a fresh direction under the club’s Premier League-winning manager. The youth side will take part in the J.League International Series 2025, facing a J.League U-15 Selection Team on 29 and 31 July at Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka in Tokyo.

According to the J.League, the objective is “to improve the standard of football and to promote goodwill and exchange with the international community.” All matches involving the U15s will be free to attend for spectators.

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Slot’s Global Strategy Continues

Arne Slot’s first season ended with Liverpool back at the Premier League summit. Now, his second begins with a campaign of expansion, cohesion and global connection. By taking youth and senior squads on the same international journey, the club continues to build on a vision where the pipeline of talent is nurtured alongside experienced professionals.

This summer’s Japan tour also provides an early look at some of the Reds’ new arrivals. Florian Wirtz, the German international signed in a club-record deal, is expected to link up with the squad in Asia. The playmaker has been spotted in training and fans will hope to see his debut in red, depending on his fitness and readiness.

Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili will also be closely watched, as they aim to further embed themselves within Slot’s dynamic system. The tour may also feature fresh arrivals, with Hugo Ekitike reportedly the most likely new addition.

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Potential Farewells on the Horizon

For all the optimism surrounding new faces, the Japan tour could also represent final appearances for several familiar names. The futures of Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa, Luis Diaz and Ben Doak remain uncertain. Should any exits be confirmed, these fixtures in Asia might be their last outings in a Liverpool shirt.

This tour, spanning elite competition and developmental opportunity, reflects a deeper narrative at Anfield, one of evolution, not just repetition. Slot’s first year delivered silverware and stability. His second begins with the kind of forward-facing planning that underlines his long-term vision.

Japan Tour Blends Tradition and Aspiration

For Liverpool, Asia has long represented more than just commercial outreach. From Tokyo to Bangkok, the club has cultivated a global fanbase built on success, spirit and connection. By combining senior matches with youth development fixtures, this summer’s Japan tour strikes the balance between tradition and aspiration.

What unfolds in Yokohama and Tokyo may not define the campaign ahead, but it offers an early glimpse of what Slot’s Liverpool could look like in 2025 and beyond: experienced, ambitious and united from top to bottom.