Liverpool winger Kone‑Doherty joins Molde FK, Norway 2026

Key points

• Teenage winger Trent Kone‑Doherty has left Liverpool to join Norwegian side Molde on a permanent deal.
• The 19‑year‑old Irish‑born winger was out of contract at the end of the season and has opted for more regular first‑team football.
• Kone‑Doherty has signed a four‑year contract with Molde FK, subject to medical and documentation.
• The transfer fee is reported to be around €750,000 (approximately £660,000), with Liverpool negotiating a sell‑on clause and a buy‑back option.​
• Liverpool had offered Kone‑Doherty a new contract, but he has chosen to move abroad to Norway instead.
• The move was finalised before the end of the winter transfer window, which remains open in Norway until early March.
• Kone‑Doherty made two first‑team appearances for Liverpool in domestic cup competitions and has been a key figure in the Under‑21s and UEFA Youth League.

Liverpool (Liverpool Standard) February 27, 2026 – Teenage winger Trent Kone‑Doherty has completed an unexpected permanent transfer from Liverpool to Norwegian Eliteserien side Molde FK, in a move that sees the Republic of Ireland youth international leave Anfield despite being offered fresh terms. The 19‑year‑old, whose contract was set to expire at the end of the season, has chosen the offer of more consistent first‑team football in Norway over extending his stay on Merseyside.

The deal to Molde, first reported as “close” by Liverpool beat‑writer and academy reporter Lewis Bower on X, is now confirmed by the club in a brief official statement. In its announcement, Liverpool said Kone‑Doherty has “made a permanent move to Molde FK” and thanked him for his contributions to the academy and first‑team pathway.

No exact transfer sum was disclosed in the communiqué, though external reports place the figure at around €750,000, with Liverpool understood to have secured a sizeable sell‑on clause and a buy‑back option to retain degrees of future control.

Why did Kone‑Doherty leave Liverpool?

Liverpool had been keen to keep Kone‑Doherty, and multiple outlets report that the club formally offered him a new contract in recent weeks. As noted by Liverpool‑focused outlet Empire of the Kop,

“Liverpool have reportedly offered Trent Kone‑Doherty a new contract, but a permanent move to Molde FK is also being discussed,”

underscoring that the decision was ultimately his own after weighing first‑team prospects.

Derry‑based title Derry Now similarly reported that, despite being offered a fresh deal, the “Derry teenager” was expected to leave Anfield, with strong interest from Molde FK among the factors in his calculations.

The consensus across coverage is that Kone‑Doherty’s primary motivation was to secure regular senior‑team football, rather than remain on the fringes of a squad entering a competitive Premier League phase under manager Arne Slot.

“Kone‑Doherty, who was out of contract at the end of the season, has opted to take up the offer of potentially more regular first‑team involvement rather than extend his commitment at Anfield,”

Liverpool’s local paper the Liverpool Echo wrote, framing the move as a forward‑looking career choice rather than a rejection of the club.​

How did the transfer get arranged?

The timeline of the transfer unfolded against the backdrop of Norway’s winter window, which remains open until early March, while England’s domestic window closed on February 3.

As reported by The Athletic’s Ian Doyle, Liverpool’s interest in Kone‑Doherty’s future was heightened by the fact that he was out of contract in June and would otherwise have been free to leave on a pre‑contract, “making the Norwegian window a key factor in the talks.”

Detailing the structure, the Liverpool Echo explained that Liverpool and Molde “finalised an undisclosed fee” before the move was made public, with sources indicating that the sum is in the region of €750,000 – a modest outlay for a player with first‑team experience and U‑21 pedigree for the Republic of Ireland. The same report noted that as part of the agreement Liverpool pushed for, and secured, a

“considerable sell‑on clause along with a buy‑back option,”

meaning the Reds could benefit financially if Kone‑Doherty excels and is later sold on, or potentially re‑acquire him in future.​

Scandinavian outlet ABCnyheter (ABC) added that

“Trent Kone‑Doherty (19) er klar for Molde på en fireårskontrakt,”

confirming that the player has signed a four‑year contract with the club, pending the usual medical and paperwork checks.

The tone of that coverage stressed that Molde were “hentet Liverpool‑talent” (brought in a Liverpool talent), portraying the acquisition as a coup for the Norwegian side, whose league season starts in mid‑March.​

What has Kone‑Doherty achieved at Liverpool?

To understand the significance of the departure, it is important to outline Kone‑Doherty’s trajectory through Liverpool’s academy system.

As reported by The Athletic, he joined Liverpool from his local Derry City set‑up in 2022 for a low‑six‑figure fee, quickly making an impression with the Under‑18s before signing his first professional contract in 2023.​

“One of the key players in the UEFA Youth League,”

Doyle wrote, noting that Kone‑Doherty scored three goals in seven appearances for the youth side, illustrating his attacking threat despite his age. He also made his first‑team bow under Arne Slot in an FA Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle in the previous season, and featured in a Carabao Cup fixture against Crystal Palace at Anfield in October, gaining brief exposure to top‑level competition.​

Despite those cameos, the majority of his minutes this season have come with Liverpool’s U‑21 side in Premier 2, where he has been a regular starter and a go‑to option in wide positions. Coverage in Derry Now reminded readers that the 19‑year‑old is into his fourth season at Anfield, yet

“despite making his first‑team debut a year ago, he is now expected to depart,”

highlighting the competitive nature of the squad and the difficulty of breaking through at such a young age.

How will Molde and Kone‑Doherty fit together?

Molde FK, currently preparing for the 2026 Eliteserien season, finished 10th out of 16 sides in the previous campaign, according to Liverpool Echo’s transfer report.

That mid‑table status means the club is not a perennial European‑campaign outfit, but it does offer a structured top‑flight environment where Kone‑Doherty can play regularly rather than rotate in and out of a reserve team.​

The Liverpool Echo’s piece on the transfer noted that Kone‑Doherty’s move is “surprising” given his trajectory within the academy, but framed it as a logical step for a player seeking consistent minutes. At the same time, Liverpool’s official statement emphasised that the club “wishes him well for his career in Norway,” signalling no lingering friction and accepting the transfer as part of the natural churn of youth‑system graduations.

In its own coverage, ABCnyheter described Kone‑Doherty as “nordiren” (Norwegian‑Irish) and underlined that he is joining Molde from a club widely regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious, which may carry some weight in the Norwegian market.

The report also highlighted that he arrives with only two senior‑team appearances at Liverpool, but that his pedigree at youth level makes him a “promising investment” for Molde’s attacking options.​

What does this mean for Liverpool’s academy?

Kone‑Doherty’s departure opens a wider conversation about Liverpool’s academy retention under the current regime. As reported by The Athletic, Liverpool “set to lose wonderkid” scenarios have not been uncommon in recent seasons, with Kai Morrall’s move to Leeds United in 2025 cited as a parallel example of a highly rated youngster leaving before senior breakthrough.​

In that context, Liverpool’s decision to strike a deal now rather than lose Kone‑Doherty on a free in June looks like a pragmatic move. The Liverpool Echo’s report made clear that

“the 19‑year‑old winger teams up with the Norwegian side ahead of their 2026 league campaign,”

suggesting that the Reds preferred a modest fee plus clauses over the risk of losing him without compensation.​

Commentators such as Lewis Bower have also pointed out that while Liverpool wants to keep its brightest talents, “the reality is that not all can be guaranteed first‑team football,” and that

“a move to a club like Molde can be a positive step for a player’s development.”

This view aligns with the broader narrative that the transfer is not a failure, but a recalibration of his pathway in the pursuit of regular senior football.

What does this move mean for Kone‑Doherty personally?

For Kone‑Doherty himself, the move represents a fresh chapter after four years steeped in Liverpool’s academy culture. As Derry Now noted, he is “a Derry teenage Liverpool winger” who has long been watched by local supporters hoping to see one of their own progress to the top level.

His national‑team involvement at Under‑21 level for the Republic of Ireland underlines that he is still regarded as a prospect with international potential, even if he has not yet broken into the senior side.

The Liverpool Echo’s piece on the transfer suggested that “Kone‑Doherty attracted interest from several clubs,” but that he settled on Molde’s offer, which presumably included assurances of playing time and a clear role in the manager’s plans. Ian Doyle’s coverage likewise stressed that the winger

“is eager to gain more experience in senior football as he nears his 20th birthday in June,”

indicating that age and timing played a crucial role in his decision‑making.

How is this transfer being received by fans and media?

Among supporters, the reaction has been mixed but generally measured. The tone of Liverpool‑centric coverage leans away from outrage and toward resignation, with outlets stressing that the move avoids a complete loss of the player. As one academy‑focused writer put it,

“Liverpool set to lose a talented youngster, but at least they have secured a fee and future upside through the sell‑on and buy‑back structure.”

In Ireland and Northern Ireland, local press has focused on the human angle, highlighting Kone‑Doherty’s roots in Derry and his journey from a provincial club to one of Europe’s biggest names. That coverage often frames his move to Molde as “a new challenge” rather than a step down, given the first‑team opportunities on offer and the chance to adapt to a different league environment.