Liverpool teenager Kareem Ahmed set for US college football move after 13 years at club

Kareem Ahmed will leave Liverpool after 13 years with the club to join a United States college football programme for the 2026 season.

The 19-year-old Egyptian has been included in the squad for the coming campaign and will wear the number seven shirt. He is set to compete in NCAA Division I, the highest level of college football in the United States, as part of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Ahmed could make his university debut on 20 August, when his new side is scheduled to face Maryland. The fixture would provide an early opportunity for the teenager to begin the next stage of his career after spending most of his footballing life with Liverpool.

His departure brings to an end a 13-year association with the Reds. During that time, Ahmed progressed through Liverpool’s youth teams and went on to sign a professional contract with the club.

Although he produced strong performances at youth level, he never started a match for Liverpool’s first team. The move to the United States therefore represents a significant change for the player as he leaves the club where he developed and signed professionally.

Ahmed’s new challenge will come in the NCAA Division I environment, with his team competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference during the 2026 season. His possible first appearance against Maryland on 20 August could mark the beginning of his university career.

The number seven shirt will be Ahmed’s new squad number in the United States, as he seeks to build on his experience with Liverpool’s younger teams. His time with the Reds included performances that earned recognition within the club, but he was unable to establish himself in the senior side before deciding to move on.

For Liverpool, the transfer ends a long association with a player who joined the club as a young footballer and later became a professional. For Ahmed, it offers the chance to continue his development in a different footballing system and competition.

The 2026 season will determine when he makes his first appearance, with Maryland currently standing as the potential opponent for his university debut. Regardless of whether he features in that match, the switch marks a new chapter after more than a decade at Liverpool.