Ryu Peets has turned out to be a wonderful new asset at Liverpool Football Club International Academy.

The 14-year-old Bermudian has held his own playing above his age group with the central Maryland-based academy’s Under-16 team and as current form suggests appears to be going from strength to strength.

Peets has undergone a remarkable transformation having transitioned from a goalkeeper to a forward since moving to the United States. He is a coach’s dream because he can play in every position on the pitch.

The promising player started his career in goal with Dandy Town before making the switch outfield after moving to X-Roads Warriors.

It was a decision that has paid off as Peets was recruited by Liverpool’s academy last September after impressing the coaching staff during trials.

“It’s pretty cool to be part of a club like Liverpool who have such a big presence internationally,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“I stood a good chance to make the team because I had been training for many months prior to the try out and I felt prepared for the opportunity to join this club.

“I’m playing in the Rockville Futsal league with ages ranging from 14 to 18. The league is very physical and fast paced. To succeed you need to learn how to be more physical, make quick decisions with the ball and develop quicker reaction times. It’s been a solid challenge and I’ve grown a lot during this season.

“It is nice being a part of a club who is associated with a programme that is impactful internationally. However, my team is still developing and being connected as a team isn’t something we’ve mastered just yet.

“The lack of cohesion can be very frustrating and it challenges me but I’m learning how to adjust.”

The academy is based in Anne Arundel County and features players from nine to 18 who compete across the state and the mid-Atlantic region.

The organisation also offers developmental programmes for children ages 3 to 8 and works in conjunction with Arundel Soccer Association to help achieve its goal of producing great generations of players for years to come in “The Liverpool Way”.

Peets, who attends Walter Johnson High School, has hit the ground running at the academy, where he has demonstrated versatility as a winger, defender, midfielder and striker.

Perhaps his biggest contribution is playing up top as a No 9 having notched 14 goals in eight games and showing no signs of slowing down.

“This is the first time that I have been focusing on offensive positions exclusively and it’s been challenging but rewarding,” Peets said.

“I feel like my new club has better coaches, so my technical skills are improving.”

The teenager, who has also sharpened his skills with Bethesda Soccer Club, Potomac Soccer and Progressive Player Academy, attributes the progress he has made to a hard-work ethic and determination to fulfil his potential.

“I train consistently and self reflect after each game, so each episode of training is a process of self improvement,” he said.

It is this same disciplined approach that earned Peets the opportunity to broaden his horizons playing for Promesas del Norte in a tournament last summer in Spain, where his remarkable goalscoring prowess also shone through.

“I was invited to play in Spain with an affiliate coach and participated in two tournaments. We worked with players and coaches from many different countries,” he said.

“The experience of playing in another country, learning a different language and style of play was amazing. I greatly appreciated that opportunity.”

The highlight of the player’s trip was scoring a late winner against former club Potomac, who he says doubted his ability to play outfield during his time with them.

Inspired by the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar Da Silva Santos, Peets’s ultimate goal is to play professionally.

“I am pretty confident that I will achieve my goals because I self-reflect after each game and after every game I find weaknesses and improve upon them,” he said.

“My short-term goals right now are making a more skilled team and measuring my progress from my last summer’s Spain tournament to the upcoming summer tournaments for 2026.

“My long-term goals are hopefully making a professional team, playing in one of the top ten international leagues and overall becoming a standout and impactful player.”