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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
William Pickworth

Liverpool record holder signs for Preston North End

Liverpool record holder Ben Woodburn has signed for Preston North End on a one-year-deal.

Woodburn, who is Liverpool’s youngest-ever goalscorer, was released by the Reds at the end of last season, ending a 16-year-stay at the club.

The now 22-year-old netted against Leeds in the EFL Cup in 2016 aged 17 years and 45 days. He took the record away from Michael Owen, who scored aged 17 and 143 days on his Premier League debut against Wimbledon in May 1997.

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There were high hopes for Woodburn at Anfield but injuries and new signings saw the Welshman slip down the pecking order and be sent out on loan in search of regular first-team football. Despite winning 11 caps for Wales, his loan spells didn’t quite work out and the midfielder is yet to show his potential.

He scored five times in 78 appearances during temporary moves to Sheffield United, Oxford United, Blackpool and Heart of Midlothian, spending last season in Scotland with Hearts.

Woodburn had been on trial at Preston during pre-season so far and the Lilywhites decided to snap him up. His manager at the Championship club will be former Liverpool youngster and self-confessed Reds fan Ryan Lowe, who had spoken highly of Woodburn earlier in the summer and outlined his desire to help the Welshman fulfil all of his undoubted potential.

“Obviously his contract’s now ended at Liverpool,” Lowe had told PNEFC.net .

“He was up with Hearts in Scotland last season and he’s a fantastic talent. We’re hoping we can get a tune out of him.”

Woodburn will hope to get his career back on track, and aged 22, he still has plenty of time to do just that.

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