Confirmed: Liverpool complete two-and-a-half-year deal for young midfielder

Yan Dhanda has signed his first professional contract at Liverpool

 

LIVERPOOL academy player Yan Dhanda has signed his first professional contract with the Anfield club.

 

The Birmingham-born playmaker joined the Reds' academy in July 2013 from West Brom for £200,000.

He has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal and has become the first player of Indian heritage to sign for Liverpool.

The 17-year-old is the second British Asian with a professional deal in the Premier League, Swansea's Neil Taylor is the other.

 

Dhanda won the up-and-coming player category at the Asian Football Awards in 2013.

At the ceremony, Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre told the BBC: "We don't take a player because he is Asian and we don't not take a player because he is Asian. 

"It's about finding the best talent regardless of where they come from. You are only going to choose someone and put them in your squad if they can genuinely compete for a place in your first team.

"Yan has a fantastic opportunity at Liverpool. He is a very talented young man and we hope he will achieve the best he can do."