Trent Kone-Doherty: Who is Liverpool's new signing?

Liverpool have continued to bolster their academy by striking a deal to sign Derry City youngster Trent Kone-Doherty.

Still only 15 at the time of agreeing his move to Anfield, Kone-Doherty has been a real sensation in Irish football in recent years, tearing it up at youth level and earning himself an appearance for the senior Derry side as a result.

As he starts to make more and more noise across Europe, here's all you need to know about Kone-Doherty.

1. He sees himself as a tricky winger

Kone-Doherty describes himself as 'quite a direct player', telling FA Ireland: "My two strengths would be my one-vs-one ability and my pace."

The teenager is comfortable on both wings, spending more time on the left than the right, and is happy using either foot to torch defenders in his path.

With quick feet and an obvious love of burning past opponents, Kone-Doherty has been a handful for players far older than him already in his young career.

2. His manager backs that up

Describing him as a player with 'that X factor', Derry Under-19 boss Gerald Boyle has backed Kone-Doherty to make a real splash at Liverpool.

"He’s got something special," Boyle said. "His one-on-one ability is excellent. He has got serious, serious pace but the biggest thing about him is that he has a brilliant attitude.

“He is so receptive to information, he wants to learn all the time and he’s a great team-mate as well."

3. He models his game on Kylian Mbappe

While it's a little early to be comparing Kone-Doherty to Kylian Mbappe, comparisons between the two players' styles of football are obvious.

That's no coincidence either as Kone-Doherty admits to modelling his game on the PSG man, watching his skills and pushing himself to try and replicate them.

"I like Mbappe," he admitted. "I like watching him and taking tips off him."

4. He's no stranger to individual accolades

Kone-Doherty has stood out wherever he has been, picking up individual awards for both his club and his country.

Ireland's Under-16s headed to Serbia earlier this year for the Miljan Miljanic Tournament and Kone-Doherty stole the show, picking up the competition's Best Player award.

5. He has a fierce eye for goal

While Kone-Doherty thrives on dribbling, he has actually showcased a real ability to find the back of the net as well.

At Under-15 level, Kone-Doherty was among the top scorers in Irish football in 2021 and he has continued to turn heads ever since, netting at an impressive rate at any age group.

He's comfortable from set-pieces as well, scoring from both free-kicks and penalties on the international stage.

6. Liverpool had to fight off several clubs to sign him

With Brexit limiting UK clubs' abilities to recruit from overseas, plenty of teams have been looking closer to home in recent years and it's no surprise that Kone-Doherty stood out from the crowd.

Manchester City and Manchester United had both been following the young winger, while Celtic took Kone-Doherty on trial in 2020 and were keen to get a deal done this summer.

In the end, it's Liverpool who pushed hardest, landing the teenager's signature for a reported £150,000.

7. Watch his highlights

With the number 7 on his back, Kone-Doherty was the stand-out performer in this 3-0 win over Malta at Under-16 level.

After fizzing a free-kick into the bottom corner, Kone-Doherty was unlucky not to add a second after some quick feet saw him fly into the Malta box and unleash a shot which may or may not have been about to trickle over the line before his team-mate made sure of it.

There's a lot to like about this kid.