Teenage Aussie goalkeeping prospect Dean Bouzanis has been offered a three-year deal by Liverpool after impressing Rafa Benitez in a trial.
The 16-year-old student is regarded as being one of the best young keepers around and the Reds have moved swiftly to secure his services - once he finishes high school.
Bouzanis is set to join in January 2008, once he has completed his studies and becomes eligible to move from a non-EU country, and will join the senior squad as opposed to the youth academy. He is of Greek origin although it is not understood if he holds an EU passport.
"It is unbelievable," the Australian Academy of Sport star told The Age. "I am a bit overwhelmed but I have to keep working hard because I have a big challenge ahead of me."
Bouzanis - who spent three weeks on trial at Liverpool's Melwood training complex this January - will finish his schooling and play for Sydney FC before moving to Anfield in the winter transfer window of next season.
"I got to train with the first-grade players and mingle with them and see what life is like for a professional footballer," he added of the experience which convinced Liverpool boss Benitez to sign the youngster.
The player's agent Terry Palapanis described the deal as groundbreaking:
"For a 16-year-old goalkeeper who will effectively not play for the first team yet, this is a deal that is worth a lot of money," Palapanis told The Age. "The money is really good - Dean's father is a solicitor and even he is amazed at what we negotiated."
"Dean is a freak of a prospect," Palapanis continued. "There were 22 clubs from Europe chasing him… but we chose Liverpool. It was too hard to refuse."
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