U.S. youth star Figueroa, 17, signs first pro contract with Liverpool

FLEETWOOD, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Keyrol Figueroa (L), Trey Nyoni (C) and Lewis Koumas of Liverpool inspect the pitch prior to the FA Youth Cup Third Round match between Fleetwood Town U18 and Liverpool FC U18 at Highbury Stadium on December 19, 2023 in Fleetwood, England. (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)

U.S. youth international Keyrol Figueroa has signed his first professional contract with Liverpool, the Premier League club has announced.

Figueroa joined Liverpool at the U-14 level, and has marked himself as one of the club’s most promising forward prospects with his displays in its academy.

The 17-year-old is the son of former Premier League defender Maynor Figueroa, who is the all-time leader in caps for Honduras with 181.

But the ex-Wigan defender’s son opted to represent the United States at the international level, a choice he explained last year during the Concacaf U-17 Championship.

“I was questioning which team I was going to represent,” he said. “But what made me pick the U.S. is the fact that all my family are spread across the U.S. I think every little person represents me. So I thought the U.S. was a perfect choice.”

Figueroa was born in Honduras but moved to England at a young age when his father transferred to Wigan.

Keyrol Figueroa has signed his first professional contract with the Reds 🔴

Congratulations, Keyrol 👊

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 7, 2024

Figueroa has missed a good portion of the current season due to injury and international duty, but recently returned with a goal for Liverpool’s U-18 side.

Overall, the striker has three goals and two assists in nine appearances for the U-18 side this season, as he looks to move up to the U-21 side for next season.

Figueroa appeared in all four games for the U.S. at the U-17 World Cup in November, scoring once as his side was knocked out by Germany in the round of 16.

This article originally appeared on Pro Soccer Wire: U.S. youth star Figueroa, 17, signs first pro contract with Liverpool