Liverpool signed the defender five years ago, but he has yet to make his senior debut for Jurgen Klopp’s squad
Many players see a loan as the ideal opportunity to demonstrate their talent to their parent club.
Harvey Elliott is a player who recently left Liverpool in search of consistent first-team playing time and has returned to Anfield in a strong position to force his way into Jurgen Klopp’s plans. Others, such as Harry Wilson and Rhian Brewster, improved their reputations while achieving success during their brief absences from L4 before being bought out for large sums of money.
However, not everyone released by the Reds with the intention of furthering their careers is given the opportunity to demonstrate the skills they learned elsewhere. Taiwo Awoniyi, a striker signed by Liverpool in 2015, spent seven loan spells away from Anfield before joining Bundesliga club Union Berlin on a permanent basis in 2021. Despite the fact that opportunities were scarce due to work permit issues at the time, the Nigerian was never called upon by the Reds.
After scoring 15 goals in 31 league appearances the previous season, the 25-year-old was signed by Premier League newcomers Nottingham Forest in a £17.5 million deal. Ironically, when playing Liverpool in October, the forward scored the game’s lone goal, seizing the opportunity to shine in the English Premier League.
Although Awoniyi is no longer a Liverpool player, a current Liverpool player has had similar experiences to the Forest forward. Anderson Arroyo, a defender from Colombia’s Fortaleza, was signed in 2018 after scouts noticed him during the 2017 Under-20s South American Youth Championship.
Arroyo was sent on an 18-month loan to Real Mallorca after being acquired by Liverpool. He was immediately assigned to the Spanish club’s B-team. This was cut short at the end of the 2017-18 season when the 23-year-old, along with the aforementioned Awoniyi, agreed to a temporary transfer to Belgian club Gent. He did not, however, make a senior appearance.
The opportunity to play for Klopp’s team was on the table during the club’s 2019 preseason tour of America, but a fractured metatarsal sustained in training prevented him from traveling with the rest of the team. After recovering from the six-week injury, the top-flight Czech team Mlada Boleslav was the next to take a chance on Arroyo the following year, but this, too, proved to be a failure for all parties involved.
His three loan destinations have all been in Spain: Salamanca, Mirandes, and now Alaves. His time at Mirandes was especially beneficial, as he played in 39 of the team’s 42 second-tier games.
The right-back, who can also play center-back and is currently aiming for promotion to La Liga with Alaves, has been demoted to a supporting role and is unlikely to return to the club for a second stint next season, based on the evidence available.
Because he still does not have a work permit to represent Liverpool in England, the defender signing a new contract at Anfield until 2025 was somewhat unexpected. Arroyo, on the other hand, has a similar outlook on his long-term prospects on Merseyside, which the team is obviously not ready to give up on just yet. When asked about his desire to play for the team in the future with WFI in 2020, he stated, “The truth is that it is my goal, my wish, and my desire.”
Leave a Reply