Forgotten Liverpool defender signed by Jurgen Klopp still waiting for debut five years on

For many players, a loan move represents the perfect platform to remind their parent club of the talent they have to offer.

Harvey Elliott serves as a recent example of an individual who left Liverpool in search of regular first-team minutes, returning to Anfield in a strong position to force his way into Jurgen Klopp’s plans. Others such as Harry Wilson and Rhian Brewster, while expiring success during their temporary stays away from L4, enhanced their reputations before being sold for sizeable fees.

Not everyone sent away by the Reds with career development in mind is handed the chance to showcase the skills acquired elsewhere, however. Signed by Liverpool in 2015, striker Taiwo Awoniyi endured seven separate loan spells away from Anfield before leaving the club on a permanent basis in 2021 to join Bundesliga side Union Berlin. The Nigerian was not once called upon by the Reds during this entire period, albeit work permit issues played a part in a lack of opportunities.

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After scoring 15 goals in 31 league appearances last term, the 25-year-old was snapped up by Premier League newcomers Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £17.5million. Seizing his chance to perform in the English top-flight, it was then rather ironic the forward scored the only goal of the game when going head-to-head with Liverpool back in October.

Awoniyi’s affiliation with the Reds may well be over, but one current Liverpool player is sharing the same experiences as the Forest forward. Recruited in 2018 from Fortaleza in his home country of Colombia, defender Anderson Arroyo was scouted after catching the eye of scouts courtesy of his performances at the 2017 Under-20s South American Youth Championship.

Immediately after being acquired by Liverpool, and without a work permit, Arroyo was sent on an 18-month loan to Real Mallorca and was placed in the Spanish side’s B-team from the get-go. This was cut short at the end of the 2017/18 season as the 23-year-old sealed a temporary switch to Belgian side Gent alongside the aforementioned Awoniyi, though failed to make a senior appearance.

The potential of featuring in Klopp’s side was on the agenda during the club’s 2019 pre-season tour of America, though a fractured metatarsal suffered in training put paid to hopes of joining the rest of the squad abroad. After recovering from this six-week blow, top-flight Czech outfit Mlada Boleslav were the next team to take a chance on Arroyo the following year but this, too, proved to be an unsuccessful operation for all parties concerned.

Each of his three loan destinations have been in Spain, starting at Salamanca, followed up by Mirandes and now at Alaves. His time at Mirandes proved to be particularly beneficial, featuring in 39 of the club’s 42 matches in the second tier.

Gunning for promotion to La Liga with Alaves at present, the right-back – who can also star at centre-back – has been resigned to a secondary role and is unlikely to return to the club for a second spell next campaign based on current evidence.

Still without a work permit to feature in England for Liverpool, it therefore came as somewhat of a surprise to see the defender sign a new contract at Anfield until 2025 last summer. Clearly a player the club are unwilling to give up on just yet, Arroyo shares a similar mindset of his long-term prospects on Merseyside. Speaking to WFI in 2020 of his aspirations of one day representing the club, he said: “The truth is that it is my goal, my wish, my dream to be able to make my debut for Liverpool.

“That is why, every day, I want to do things in the best way. I want to give everything and keep learning. I have to be there and I will give all I have to get there. My future goal is to play for Liverpool and to be able to consolidate myself in the first team. It is what I have longed for since I signed for the club, and I hope that dream comes true.”

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