Yusuf Mersin garnered attention when he transferred from Millwall to Liverpool at the age of 16, but his “unbelievable time” at Anfield came to an unsatisfactory conclusion.
Mersin told KentOnline in May that “the papers were saying I cost £1 million.”
Even though I didn’t see any money, it’s wonderful to have that.
When he switched from Millwall to Liverpool in January 2011, Mersin’s name attracted headlines, partly because of the costs involved.
When Liverpool made an offer, Millwall manager Kenny Jackett acknowledged that it was “impossible to stop a boy leaving.” Instead, Jackett sought to utilize the money to “nurture and bring through other promising players.”
The club apparently saw potential in him because the reported original fee of £450,000 was followed by add-ons that brought the total to £1 million.
It’s crazy looking back and thinking about it now, the player said.
Mersin was regrettably released at the conclusion of the nearly successful 2013–14 season after spending three and a half years on Merseyside.
The young player, who was born in London but represents Turkey at the youth level, rose through the ranks while playing for Liverpool and spent that season traveling and training with the first team in addition to playing academy games.
“That was the year they were going for the title,” Mersin recalled.
Being around so many amazing players was incredible. The initial selection, Simon Mignolet, was outstanding during training.
“Going into these team meetings was an unbelievable time, an unbelievable experience,” he continued.
Due to the injury to teammate Danny Ward, Mersin had to regularly collaborate with Brad Jones and Mignolet while playing for Brendan Rodgers’ club.
Realistically, that might have opened up more doors, but the seven-figure transfer’s promise was unfulfilled.
To be completely honest, I thought I was going to obtain a new job,” Mersin said.
Nevertheless, there was a catch: “At the end of my contract, I was verbally assured that I would probably get a new deal, but I went over on my ankle badly and hurt myself, which did for that.
Liverpool failed to win the championship at the end of the campaign because Man City shattered their illusions, and Mersin was released before joining Turkish club Kasimpasa on a free transfer.
After returning to England, he worked at Crawley, Dover Athletic, and Mainstone United; the latter just announced his release following a loan at Welling United.
Mersin, who is now 28 and no longer plays for a Premier League first team, may feel let down after being demoted to the sixth division.
Despite the tragic end of his tenure at Liverpool, he only has pride to reflect on his time there.
I still feel a connection to the club, he admitted.
My missus is Scouse and all her family are mad football fans, and I still speak to the first-team goalkeeper coach, John Achterberg, and some of the other guys there.”
The shot-stopper added: “I wish they had won the league that year.”
