It is one of the most iconic moments in modern football history.
May 7, 2019. Anfield is rocking, Liverpool need one more goal to complete an impossible comeback against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-final, and the clock is ticking. Before Trent Alexander-Arnold could even pretend to walk away from the corner flag, a sharp 14-year-old ball boy threw a second ball directly to him with lightning speed.
“Corner taken quickly… ORIGI!”
The rest was history. Liverpool went on to win the Champions League, and that 14-year-old boy Oakley Cannonier instantly became an Anfield cult hero before he had even signed a professional contract.
Now, after years of lighting up Liverpool’s academy, Cannonier is officially closing his chapter on Merseyside to embark on a new adventure in Singapore, joining Hougang United.
While fans will forever associate his name with that magical European night, Cannonier proved very quickly that his football talent extended far beyond his quick thinking on the touchline.
Rising through the ranks at Kirkby, Cannonier developed into a lethal forward with an eye for goal that drove youth defenders mad. His record for the Liverpool academy speaks for itself.
Plastered the back of the net with an astonishing 44 goals in 71 games across youth levels and dominant form during the 2021/22 U18 campaign, where he finished as the premier division’s top scorer despite battling unfortunate injury setbacks during his transition to the U21 squad, his goalscoring instincts never wavered.
Leaving the club you’ve grown up with is never easy, especially when your name is etched into its folklore. As Cannonier sets off for Singapore to ignite his senior career, his farewell message captures the deep bond he holds with the club and its supporters.
“Liverpool has been my home for as long as I can remember. From running around as a kid on the sidelines to wearing the shirt and scoring goals for this badge, it’s been a dream come true.
People always ask me about that night against Barcelona, and I’ll cherish it forever—but I’m equally proud of every single goal I scored coming up through the academy. Thank you to all the coaches, staff, teammates, and fans who supported me. Liverpool will always be in my heart”.
Moving halfway across the world to sign for a club in Singapore represents a bold, exciting step for the forward. It offers him regular senior minutes, a fresh environment to showcase his goalscoring talent, and the platform to build a legacy of his own on the pitch.
