Liverpool midfielder James Balagizi has departed the club for another spell on loan, having unsuccessfully trialled for a move to Sweden earlier in the summer.
Balagizi spent time with Osters IF in pre-season, working with the Swedish side during their training camp and even featuring in a 3-3 friendly draw with IFK Goteborg.
But the 21-year-old then returned to Merseyside and continued preparations with Liverpool U21s, while the club and his representatives explored avenues for an exit.
That has now been resolved with Liverpool announcing a season-long loan deal with Forest Green Rovers, who are in the fifth-tier National League.
Managed by Robbie Savage, Forest Green are currently unbeaten at the top of the non-league table having taken 13 points from their first five games.
Their director of football Mark Bowen has said of the deal: “James is a top talent and we’re delighted to be able to attract a player of his ability to the football club in amongst fighting off interest from clubs higher up the pyramid.
“We’re incredibly thankful to Liverpool for allowing us to aid his development and add more quality to our squad here at FGR.”
Balagizi will wear the No. 26 shirt and is set to be utilised in a variety of roles in Savage’s midfield, but is arguably best used as a box-to-box midfielder.
There had been high hopes for the ex-Man City youngster when he first broke through in the older age groups in Liverpool’s academy.
That included exposure to first-team training, but injuries blighted his opportunities of game time under Jurgen Klopp during pre-season.
He did make the bench twice during the 2021/22 campaign but did not feature in either of those cup ties against Norwich and Shrewsbury, and he has found himself restricted to the U21s since.
Balagizi has spent time on loan with Crawley, Wigan and Kilmarnock, though fitness issues also limited his appearances, meaning his progress has stalled in recent years.
The move to Forest Green, who took goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek on loan from Liverpool in the second half of last season, should serve as an opportunity for the versatile youngster to push on.
There is no suggestion of Balagizi having agreed a new deal with his parent club before heading to Gloucestershire, with it unclear when his current terms expire.