Such is the nature of modern football — especially in the Premier League — that players often come and go with dizzying speed. It’s just part of the game now. But there will always be those rare figures who devote most of their career to one club.
Take Liverpool and England legend Steven Gerrard as the perfect example. Despite serious interest from clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea, the Scouser remained loyal to his boyhood club and only moved on when he could no longer compete at the top level.
So when his cousin Bobby Duncan burst onto the scene in 2018 as one of Liverpool’s most exciting youth prospects, many Reds fans hoped history might repeat itself — expecting Duncan to become Anfield’s next long-term superstar.
That, however, never materialized. The prolific centre-forward, who had lit up Liverpool’s Under-18s with 23 goals in just 26 games, left under controversial circumstances in 2019. The sudden and somewhat messy departure left many wondering what might have been.
So where is Bobby Duncan now? And did he ever live up to the promise he once showed on Merseyside after his well-publicised exit?
Being the cousin of Steven Gerrard — one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history — was always going to place huge expectations on Bobby Duncan’s young shoulders as he began making waves in Liverpool’s academy.
Now 24, Duncan first kicked off his career at local sides Mossley Hill and St Helens before being picked up by Wigan Athletic in 2010. After a year with the Latics, he was snapped up by Manchester City, spending several promising seasons there before sealing a high-profile move to Liverpool in 2018.
That year, Duncan signed his first professional contract — a three-year deal — and quickly established himself as one of the club’s most exciting youth talents. His standout moment came during the Reds’ triumphant 2018/19 FA Youth Cup campaign, when he grabbed a vital late equaliser in the thrilling 5-3 final win over his former club Manchester City.
