Liverpool have completed the signing of teenager Jamie Stephens from Swindon for an undisclosed fee.
The 16-year-old goalkeeper will join the Liverpool Academy until 2012 and sign a professional contract on his 17th birthday.
Stephens was invited to train with the Reds earlier this year and did enough to earn a permanent move to the Premier League giants.
The youngster is yet to make his senior debut and has only played a handful of games for Swindon's youth team this season.
"This is a great opportunity for Jamie," said Swindon chairman Andrew Fitton.
"George Wood (Swindon's goalkeeping coach) recognised his talent immediately and did a great job developing him.
"Being such a specialist position, the opportunity to go to an Academy like Liverpool is the right move for him and will give him the chance to play in tournaments all over the world."
Fitton believes the move shows Swindon's intention to build better relationships with top clubs which will benefit all parties.
The Robins already have young defender Stephen Darby on loan from Liverpool and Stephens himself could return in the future on a similar agreement.
"You can expect to see more interaction between Swindon and clubs such as Liverpool with talented players such as Stephen Darby coming on loan to help in their career development while we leverage the resources that only the big clubs have," said Fitton.
"I hope that one day Jamie Stephens may come back to Swindon, maybe on loan from Liverpool, and get his first taste of league football at the County Ground."
Stephens said after his earlier spell with Liverpool: "The Academy is unbelievable. They have so many staff, everyone is so polite and kind. It's really friendly, like a family club."
The 16-year-old goalkeeper will join the Liverpool Academy until 2012 and sign a professional contract on his 17th birthday.
Stephens was invited to train with the Reds earlier this year and did enough to earn a permanent move to the Premier League giants.
The youngster is yet to make his senior debut and has only played a handful of games for Swindon's youth team this season.
"This is a great opportunity for Jamie," said Swindon chairman Andrew Fitton.
"George Wood (Swindon's goalkeeping coach) recognised his talent immediately and did a great job developing him.
"Being such a specialist position, the opportunity to go to an Academy like Liverpool is the right move for him and will give him the chance to play in tournaments all over the world."
Fitton believes the move shows Swindon's intention to build better relationships with top clubs which will benefit all parties.
The Robins already have young defender Stephen Darby on loan from Liverpool and Stephens himself could return in the future on a similar agreement.
"You can expect to see more interaction between Swindon and clubs such as Liverpool with talented players such as Stephen Darby coming on loan to help in their career development while we leverage the resources that only the big clubs have," said Fitton.
"I hope that one day Jamie Stephens may come back to Swindon, maybe on loan from Liverpool, and get his first taste of league football at the County Ground."
Stephens said after his earlier spell with Liverpool: "The Academy is unbelievable. They have so many staff, everyone is so polite and kind. It's really friendly, like a family club."
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