IMScouting takes a closer look at the latest Liverpool signing.
Kristoffer Peterson
Age: 16
Position: Striker
Height: 183cm
Previous clubs: Savedalens IF
Peterson's signing for Liverpool represents a massive move for both the player and his club Savedalens IF.
To put it into context, Savedalens IF currently play in the fifth tier of Swedish football (don't be fooled by the title Division Three). They have an inglorious history and their only player of note is Bertil Johansson, a striker who played for the club in the 1950s and went on to make four international appearances for Sweden. Savedalens IF finished fifth in Division Three last season, surviving on an average attendance of just 97 people.
Peterson himself has known no other club, playing for the Savedalens IF reserve side aged just 14-years-old. Having broken into the first team, he developed an excellent scoring record, hitting 24 goals in 25 games over two seasons. Nonetheless, the fact that he came to Liverpool's attention is quite an achievement in itself. Now, he is set to make the huge step up to a Premier League club.
Reports suggest that Peterson is a fast, technically gifted striker, who is particularly composed in one on one situations. He is also able to drop a little deeper 'in the hole' behind a strike partner or front two pairing. Peterson certainly did enough to impress the Liverpool coaching staff during a three week trial period earlier this year. As a result, he has now signed a three-year deal at Anfield and will join the Liverpool Academy with an eye to the future.
Speaking after Peterson's signing, Liverpool youth coach Josep Segura struck a note of both realism and hope, commenting, “The most important thing for Liverpool is that these players aged 16, 17 and 18 years old go on to become professionals with this club.
"This is our target. It is clear that we must strive to produce great players to play for Liverpool for years to come and hopefully they can help us to win many trophies at first-team level."
Segura also talked about the need to "ensure that this great club is blessed with some of the best homegrown players of the future.”
In Peterson, Liverpool certainly appear to have signed a very level-headed youngster. While on trial at Anfield, Peterson's agent emphasized the importance of continuing the youngster's studies and proudly announced, "We understand Liverpool are willing to offer an education package that will include school and studies."
Reports in Sweden also suggest that Peterson has agreed a deal that will allow his parents to accompany him every step of the way for the first five months of his Liverpool adventure.
His former coach at Savedalens IF, Michel Bishop also gave an insight into Peterson's temperament, revealing that the young striker could have left the club a year ago but remained at the minnows in order to develop further.
Bishop commented, "He is so mature and he will manage it just fine. Koffe (Peterson's nickname) has long been widely courted by many other clubs and he might have made a move earlier. However, I believe that it has been very good for him that he stayed an extra year in Sävedalen."
Despite Peterson's apparent level-headedness, there is no hiding his excitement at joining a club of Liverpool's stature.
He told Swedish daily Expressen, "I am no longer just toying with the dream."
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