Forgotten Liverpool player who signed for the club in 2018 still hasn’t played a single game

Forgotten Liverpool Player Still Under Contract After Six Years

A Liverpool player who hasn’t featured for the club in over six years remains under contract as the Reds announced their 2023/24 retained list. Liverpool confirmed this list on Wednesday morning, revealing the departure of 10 players across the first team and academy.

High-Profile Departures

The most notable names leaving Anfield are midfielder Thiago Alcantara and centre-back Joel Matip, while veteran goalkeeper Adrian has been offered a new contract. Among other departing players are Adam Lewis, Melkamu Frauendorf, and Mateusz Musialowski.

Anderson Arroyo’s Situation

One player staying at the club is centre-back Anderson Arroyo, who joined Liverpool from Colombian side Fortaleza C.E.I.F. in February 2018. Despite being with the club for seven years, Arroyo, who can also play as a right-back, hasn’t played a single game for Liverpool.

Arroyo joined Liverpool at 18 but couldn’t secure a work permit, resulting in a loan to Spanish Segunda Division B side Real Mallorca for 18 months. Since then, he has been on seven loan spells, accumulating over 100 appearances for various clubs. His latest loan stint was with Segunda Division side Burgos CF during the second half of the 2023/24 season, where he scored one goal in 15 appearances.

Work Permit Challenges

Liverpool.com reported last year that Arroyo could earn a work permit by playing in La Liga or breaking into the Colombian national team. Unfortunately, he has yet to meet either criterion. New regulations introduced last summer allow clubs to employ players through Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) permits, a system meant to accommodate players who were eligible for permits before the UK’s post-Brexit Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) criteria. However, Arroyo has not accumulated enough points to qualify for an ESC exemption.

Future Prospects

With Arroyo’s contract running until the summer of 2025, he is set to enter his eighth season as a Liverpool player without having played for the club. This Is Anfield suggests Liverpool are expected to seek a sale this summer, potentially their last chance to cash in on the defender.