Luca Stephenson
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luca Stephenson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 17 September 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Horden, England | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Bolton Wanderers | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2018 | Sunderland | ||
| 2018–2023 | Liverpool | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2026 | Liverpool | 0 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Barrow (loan) | 30 | (0) |
| 2024–2026 | → Dundee United (loan) | 60 | (8) |
| 2026– | Bolton Wanderers | 0 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4 April 2026 | |||
Luca Stephenson (born 17 September 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back or defensive midfielder for EFL Championship club Bolton Wanderers.
Career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Stephenson started his career in Sunderland's academy, before signing for Liverpool in September 2018.[2][3]
Stephenson captained Liverpool's under-18 team for the 2020–21 season, going on to also captain the under-21 side, becoming a regular with them in the following season.[3]
During his time in Liverpool's academy, Stephenson was versatile, playing at both centre-back and right-back in addition to his natural midfield role.[3]
Liverpool
[edit]Stephenson signed his first professional contract in September 2020,[4] with his deal being extended in February 2022.[5]
Loan to Barrow
[edit]On 1 September 2023, Stephenson joined EFL League Two club Barrow on a season-long loan.[6][7] On 5 September, he made his professional debut in an EFL Trophy fixture against Blackpool.[8] He later made his professional league debut on 30 September against Doncaster Rovers, coming on as a substitute for Tyrell Warren in the 62nd minute.[9] On 14 October 2023, Stephenson made his full league debut at right-wing-back as Barrow faced Milton Keynes Dons, being replaced after 46 minutes.[10]
During his time at Barrow, Stephenson was mainly deployed on the right of a back-five, with his hard-working and tough tackling style making him popular amongst fans.[11] He became a regular in a Barrow team that narrowly missed-out on the League Two English Football League play-offs by a single point, one of their best league finishes in a 122-year history.[12]
Loan to Dundee United
[edit]On 15 August 2024, Stephenson signed for newly promoted Scottish Premiership side Dundee United on a season-long loan.[13] He debuted for the club three days later in a Scottish League Cup match against St Mirren.[14] On 24 August, he made his league debut and scored his first professional goal in a 2–0 win over St Johnstone.[15] His season was cut short due to injury, a double hernia which required surgery. An injury he’d played with for 4 months, to secure Dundee United a top 4 finish and a place in Europe. Stephenson was awarded both fans & clubs Young Player of the season.
On 14 August 2025, Stephenson signed a long term contract extension with Liverpool before extending his loan at Dundee United for an additional season.[16]
Bolton Wanderers
[edit]On 2 July 2026, Stephenson completed a permanent move to EFL Championship club Bolton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal.[17]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 4 April 2026
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Barrow (loan) | 2023–24 | EFL League Two | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| Dundee United (loan) | 2024–25 | Scottish Premiership | 31 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 |
| 2025–26 | Scottish Premiership | 29 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 5 | |
| Total | 60 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 8 | ||
| Bolton Wanderers | 2026–27 | EFL Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 90 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 101 | 8 | ||
- ↑ Includes FA Cup
- ↑ Includes Scottish League Cup
- ↑ Appearance in EFL Trophy
References
[edit]- ↑ "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ↑ Rayner, Stuart (2 September 2018). "Sunderland youngster Luca Stephenson set to join Liverpool". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- 1 2 3 "Luca Stephenson". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ↑ "Luca Stephenson signs first professional contract with Liverpool FC". Liverpool F.C. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ↑ "Luca Stephenson signs new contract with Liverpool FC". Liverpool F.C. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ↑ O'Hara, Matthew (1 September 2023). "Barrow AFC complete Deadline Day loan-deal for Liverpool midfielder". The Mail. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ↑ "Luca Stephenson makes loan move to Barrow". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ↑ "Barrow Vs. Blackpool - 5 September 2023". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ↑ "Barrow Vs. Doncaster Rovers - 30 September 2023". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ↑ "MK Dons Vs. Barrow - 14 October 2023". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ↑ "Manager facing sack calls as Liverpool loanee subbed 42 minutes into debut". This is Anfield. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ↑ "End of season review – Where do Barrow AFC go from here?". Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ↑ "Luca Stephenson completes loan switch to Dundee United". Liverpool F.C. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ↑ "Dundee United 1–0 St Mirren". BBC Sport. 18 August 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ↑ "Dundee United 2–0 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ↑ "Luca Stephenson signs new LFC contract and returns to Dundee United on loan". Liverpool F.C. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
- ↑ "Luca Who's Landed". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 2 July 2026. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
External links
[edit]- Luca Stephenson – UEFA competition record (archive)
- 2003 births
- Living people
- English men's footballers
- Men's association football midfielders
- English Football League players
- Sunderland A.F.C. players
- Liverpool F.C. players
- Barrow A.F.C. players
- Dundee United F.C. players
- Bolton Wanderers F.C. players
- 21st-century English sportsmen
- Scottish Professional Football League players