Midfielder confirms why he had to leave Liverpool as deal announced

Midfielder confirms why he had to leave Liverpool as deal announced Liverpool have taken the decision to sell Luca Stephenson to Bolton Wanderers. The 22-year-old’s long-awaited move was announced earlier this week - with reports putting the deal around the £700k mark . That seems a remarkably low fee for a player of Stephenson’s calibre - who has spent two seasons out on loan in Scotland impressing at Dundee United. Bolton complete £700k deal for Luca Stephenson The versatile defender-cum-midfielder was even deemed to be close to a Liverpool breakthrough - featuring in two preseasons under Arne Slot and signing a new contract last summer. Stephenson was even linked with a return in January when the outgoing Premier League champions were struggling due to availability issues at right-back. He did stay put however - with his season later curtailed due to injury. Stephenson told he wouldn't get a breakthrough But Stephenson was never going to settle for not playing football - and has got his wish in the form of a transfer to the Championship new boys. He has revealed that he would have NO first-team role to play at Anfield for the 2026/27 season - leading to his decision to explore a permanent move away. “The one thing I always want to do is play games,” Stephenson told his new club’s in-house TV channel. “It's brilliant being a Liverpool player and they've kind of given me a lot and they've taught me a lot, but there's nothing like playing men's football. “You can't replicate that at Liverpool playing for the 21s. “I found that I wasn't going to get the chance to play for the first team every week and that's why I made the decision to come here.” Stephenson sold for rock-bottom fee Stephenson joined Liverpool’s academy from Sunderland back in 2018 for a reported fee of £500k. As well as loan spells at Dundee United in each of the last two seasons he has also had a temporary stint with Barrow. Dundee United fans have been taken with Stephenson’s quality, effort and endurance and he is sure to be a good asset for Bolton in the season ahead.