THE most expensive 14-year-old in football history has signed off on a new chapter in his remarkable journey.
Liverpool splurged £2million on in 2011, fending off a multi-million pound offer from .
Ojo and Nani will link up in a Kazakh team brimming with faded Premier League glory Credit: Instagram / fcaktobe_official
Sheyi Ojo last played for Liverpool in 2017 Credit: Alamy
Fast forward to 2026, and the 29-year-old has plunged deep into footballing obscurity – putting pen to paper with Kazakhstan Premier League side Aktobe.
The right-wing prodigy made his Premier League debut aged 18, and helped win their first global tournament since 1966 at the 2017 U20 World Cup.
once lavished praise on Liverpool’s youth star, calling him a “wonderful player”, and noting how “everyone can see the big skills” after his maiden Anfield goal in 2016.
But Ojo’s burgeoning momentum on Merseyside came crashing down when the breakthrough talent suffered a stress fracture prior to the 2016-17 season.
The Liverpool nomad was shipped out for seven loan spells after his initial eye-watering move, notching just 12 goals at an assortment of temporary homes.
A permanent move away from Anfield came in 2022, when he was snapped up by Cardiff FC in the .
However, mixed performances in a nearly-relegated team forced Ojo to hit the road once more.
A year abroad in Kortrijk failed to stop the rot after the Belgian Pro League outfit finished one place above the drop.
Ojo has played for clubs in Slovenia, Scotland, Belgium, England, France and now Kazakhstan Credit: Instagram / fcaktobe_official
Ojo was then forced to head deep into the transfer wilderness, moving to the Slovenian PrvaLiga and featuring 61 times for NK across a two-year stint in Central Europe.
The former Liverpool wonderkid will now head east to Kazakhstan’s fourth-largest city.
This January, FC Aktobe sent ripples throughout the footballing world by luring former and Man Utd star out of retirement.
The top-tier Kazakh outfit made their ambition evident, speaking at the time of a desire for “an international reference figure, capable of contributing to the growth and global projection of both the club and Kazakh football“.
Ojo and Nani will form a remarkable link up on the flanks for a team now brimming with faded Premier League glory.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
