Joe Gomez: Ten things Liverpool fans need to know about latest signing

Liverpool announced the signing of Joe Gomez from Charlton Athletic on their official website on Saturday.

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The player will be a relative unknown to many of the Anfield faithful, having only plied his trade in lower divisions so far.

Here are ten things Reds fans will want to know about Brendan Rodgers’s latest acquisition…

10) Young

At just 18-years-old, Gomez has done very well to have already earned a move to the Premier League.

9) Versatile

Able to play at either right-back or centre-back, Rodgers could use the youngster as a replacement for Glen Johnson or at the heart of his defence.

8) Inexperienced

It was only last August that the teenager made his debut for the Addicks. He played the full 90 minutes in a 4-0 Capital One Cup victory over Colchester United and went on to make a further 23 appearances in the campaign, mostly at right-back.

7) International

With four caps for England Under 19s and numerous others in younger age groups, the defender is already on the radar of the Three Lions set up.

6) Successful on the big stage

Gomez was a big part of England U-17’s European Championship win in 2014, playing every minute of every game. He was also named in the Team of the Tournament.

5) Young Player of the Year

He picked up Charlton’s Young Player of the Year award for his performances last year, and was also nominated for the Championship’s Apprentice of the Year prize.

4) Tall and pacy, but can play

At 6ft 2 the youngster rarely gets pushed around, and he also has decent pace. Not only this, but Gomez is also good with the ball at his feet.

3) The next Rio Ferdinand?

These attributes have seen the youngster compared to Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand by the Liverpool Echo.

2) Following in Jonjo Shelvey’s footsteps…

Gomez isn’t the first to make the move from Charlton to Liverpool in recent times. Jonjo Shelvey joined the Reds from the Addicks back in 2010, but went on to fail at Anfield.

Hopefully it isn’t the same story here.

1) …or Raheem Sterling’s? 

Perhaps a better example to follow would be Raheem Sterling, who is another Londoner who went to Merseyside as a teenager. Although now on the wrong side of the fans now, even his biggest detractors have to admit the England international is one of the country’s best talents.