Liverpool chasing Barcelona’s Szymczak on loan deal | OneFootball

Emilia Szymczak (Instagram)

Liverpool are looking to bring in Poland’s Emilia Szymczak on loan for the season – but face competition to secure her signature.

The 19-year-old has made 14 appearances for her country, and plays primarily as a central midfielder. She featured in Poland’s team for the 2025 Women’s Euros, their first major international tournament. With Szymczak in the side, they headed into the competition unbeaten in ten matches, with solid Nations League wins over Romania and Northern Ireland proving good preparation.

She then started all three of Poland’s group games at the Euros, a 2-0 defeat to Germany, a 3-0 defeat to Sweden and then a 3-2 win against Denmark.

She began her senior career at the age of 15 in her native country for Gornik Leczna, making her debut in 2021.

She joined Barcelona in 2023 and has played regularly for their B team. Now her impressive performances mean that several clubs are interested in giving her the opportunity of regular first-team football – including Liverpool, according to the BBC.

Szymczak has been part of Barcelona’s first team in their pre-season preparations.

Liverpool’s set-up behind the scenes

Rob Clarkson is Liverpool’s new head of recruitment for the women’s team. Former Manchester City head coach Gareth Taylor was appointed as manager earlier in the summer following the interim reign of Amber Whiteley after Matt Beard’s departure at the start of the year.

The Reds’ pre-season campaign thus far has been mixed, with friendly losses to Aston Villa, Durham and West Ham, and a 2-2 draw against Manchester United. Incoming transfers have included Kirsty Maclean, goalkeeper Rafaela Borggrafe, Scotland’s Samantha Kerr and Lily Woodham, with several others committing their long-term future to the club, including the club’s record appearance-maker Gemma Bonner.

Liverpool are looking to return to the era where they won consecutive league titles, in 2013 and 2014. Since then, they have not finished higher than fourth in the top tier. They finished seventh in the Women’s Super League last season, with seven wins and four draws from their 22 matches, and a goal difference of minus 15. They reached the semi-finals of the Women’s FA Cup, but lost to eventual winners Chelsea, and were knocked out in the group stages of the Subway Women’s League Cup. Canada international Olivia Smith was named PFA Young Player of the Year, but she completed a then-world record move to Arsenal in the close season.

They begin their WSL season at Anfield on Sunday, 7th September with a local derby against Everton.