Blackburn Rovers are now close to signing Billy Koumetio of Liverpool in a deadline day loan transfer, so here is everything you need to know about the Reds’ young prospect.
Ewood Park chiefs have turned their attentions to Koumetio’s last-ditch arrival from Anfield. Blackburn coach Jon Dahl Tomasson is striving to improve his Championship side before the sales slam shut at 23:00 GMT. Rovers are only 18th in the table after 28 fixtures this season.
Promotion is still possible in Lancashire with the play-off spots only 11 points away with one game in hand. So, Blackburn have sought to sign Koumetio with a deadline day loan transfer from Liverpool. And Sky Sports reports that a short-term deal is now close to being finalised.
Blackburn Rovers are close to signing Billy Koumetio on loan from Liverpool
Liverpool are open to sending Koumetio to Blackburn as he recently returned to Merseyside from a loan spell with USL Dunkerque. He joined the Ligue 2 team last August but only made eight appearances in France’s second tier. Koumetio also played in one Coupe de France tie.
His spell at the Stade Marcel-Tribut further followed a loan stint at Austria Vienna during the first half of the 2022/23 season. Now, the ex-Lyon and US Orleans youngster is likely to head to Blackburn on loan for the rest of this term to further the Liverpool talent’s development.
Who is Billy Koumetio?
Billy Koumetio is a part of Liverpool’s academy and is on the fringes of Jurgen Klopp’s first-team squad. The Frenchman signed his first professional contract in 2020 and joined in with the senior side’s pre-season tour that summer. Klopp has since given him two appearances.
He first played at the senior level as Liverpool visited FC Midtjylland in a Champions League meeting in December 2020. Koumetio made his debut as a half-time substitute away to the Danish club. He also started an EFL Cup quarter-final with Leicester City in December 2021.
The UEFA fixture further marked Koumetio’s senior breakthrough after rising up the ranks in Liverpool’s academy. He moved to Merseyside in January 2019 after a spell in Orleans’ youth set-up. He left Lyon after four years in 2018 and also launched his path at FC Vaulx-en-Velin.
Where and when was Billy Koumetio born?
Liverpool prospect Billy Koumetio was born on November 14, 2002 in Villeurbanne, France. But he is also of Cameroonian descent and can play for Les Lions Indomptables. But he has so far only represented France at the Under-18 and 20 levels with a handful of youth caps.
What position does Billy Koumetio play?
Billy Koumetio predominantly plies his trade as a centre-half but added a tinge of versatility to his game whilst on loan to USL Dunkerque. The defender regularly featured as a left-back whilst in Ligue 2. In fact, he enjoyed six of his eight French second-tier outings from the role.
How good is Billy Koumetio?
Liverpool will hope Billy Koumetio proves his potential with Blackburn Rovers during a half-season loan transfer. The Reds recalled the defender from USL Dunkerque in January 2024 having initially moved to Ligue 2 on a season-long deal during the previous summer market.
The Reds also only have the Frenchman under contract at Anfield through to June 2025. So, his move to Ewood Park could determine what long-term future Koumetio has at Liverpool. Klopp has only included the centre-half in eight senior squads for two appearances to date.
Koumetio immediately impressed Klopp after joining the Liverpool first-team in pre-season in 2020, though. The German coach brought the defender through to the senior fold after he signed his first professional contract. Klopp also praised Koumetio as a ‘very special’ talent.
Billy Koumetio’s stats at Liverpool
Billy Koumetio is due to join Blackburn Rovers in a deadline day loan transfer having so far played just 89 first-team minutes for Liverpool. But the centre-half has enjoyed a promising youth career at Anfield since joining the Reds from US Orleans’ Under-19 side during 2019.
Under-18, Liverpool: 21 appearances, 1 goal, 1 assist
Under-19, Liverpool: 9 appearances, 0 goals, 1 assist
Under-21, Liverpool: 49 appearances, 3 goals, 1 assists
First-team, Liverpool: 2 appearances, 0 goals, 0 assists
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