Midfielder Elijah Dixon-Bonner was released by Liverpool over the summer and his search for a new club has now taken him to QPR as part of a trial period.
The 21-year-old spent seven years at Anfield and during that time made three first-team appearances, two of which came during a memorable last season in domestic cup action.
Dixon-Bonner was claimed to have a 12-month extension clause in his contract, but neither the player nor the club attempted to activate it, allowing the youngster to seek a new challenge.
It was not a move that came out of nowhere, as Dixon-Bonner had been involved in an extended trial with Portsmouth in 2021 before exploring other options throughout 2021/22.
A permanent move has yet to take place, but West London Sport have reported that QPR have now taken Dixon-Bonner to trial, and he has since featured for 45 minutes for their under-21 side.
The Championship club is run by Michael Beale, who worked at Liverpool’s academy for six years, during which time Dixon-Bonner rose through the ranks.
Beale and his coaching staff are said to have been present during Dixon-Bonner’s appearance for the Under-21s on Friday, who scored two unanswered goals past Colchester.
Meanwhile, Beale’s senior side are currently sixth in the Championship having collected 15 points from the first 10 games, eight points behind leaders Sheffield United in his first season in the job.
A familiar face for Dixon-Bonner to work with could create the ideal environment for the youngster in his next chapter, but first he must seize his chance during his trial.
Leaving Liverpool was never an easy decision, but the 21-year-old has shown an attitude that QPR, among others, should be an admirer of, as he looks to “grow as a player”.
“I came as a child with the dream of playing for the club I supported since birth and then left as a youngster having fulfilled that dream,” Dixon-Bonner wrote of his departure from Anfield this summer.
“The time has come where I think the best option for my future is to move on, grow as a player and pursue other challenges that I have for myself.”
