Ex-Liverpool star who was humiliated in training changes his name

Liverpool’s busy summer transfer window continues with the sale of young winger Ben Doak to Bournemouth, though the 19-year-old Scotland international now wishes to go by a different name

Liverpool have surpassed £200million in sales this transfer window, with 19-year-old Ben Doak departing for a fee of £25m. And the Scotland winger now wants to be referred to as Ben Gannon Doak after his Bournemouth switch.

Arne Slot’s Reds continue to be active in the transfer market, with interest in Alexander Isak still rumbling and nearly £300m spent on the likes of Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz. However, a large portion of this sum has been recouped through player sales.

Eight first-team stars have left Anfield this window, including Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, and another has now been shown the exit door in Gannon Doak. Yet, despite only going by Doak at Liverpool and on loan with Middlesbrough last year, he now wishes to be referred to by both his parents’ surnames and leaves the club with fond memories, bar one training ground humiliation.

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Gannon Doak arrived on Merseyside in March 2022 from Celtic as an academy prospect, with the Scottish club receiving compensation of roughly £600,000 for his transfer.

He made his debut under Jurgen Klopp in a Carabao Cup tie against Derby County and shortly after signed his first pro deal. Gannon Doak became the youngest Scotsman to play in the Premier League when he appeared against Aston Villa that December.

A knee injury would sideline him for most of the following season, but not before a lighthearted training ground embarrassment involving forgotten Reds midfielder Arthur Melo.

The Brazilian only played 13 minutes for Liverpool during his loan spell from Juventus, but in March 2023, he went viral for a piece of skill on the training pitch. Klopp’s cohort were preparing for a clash against Manchester City, and initiated a rondo, with Gannon Doak doing the chasing.

Melo received the ball, and with Gannon Doak rapidly closing in, he silkily rolled it through his legs, nutmegging the young Scotsman and leaving him red-faced.

Gannon Doak’s countryman, Andy Robertson, began crying with laughter after the feat, and team-mates Diaz, Curtis Jones and Nunez were also impressed.

The pair hugged it out after the nutmeg, though neither played any part in the subsequent 4-1 defeat to eventual champions City. Melo left Anfield that summer after a temporary spell riddled with injuries.

Gannon Doak, too, suffered from spells on the sidelines before his loan move to Middlesbrough in August 2024. Last November, he won the EFL Young Player of the Month award for bagging five assists in as many games.

Now, Gannon Doak has moved on permanently to the Cherries, where he’s been handed the No. 11 shirt, and has opted for a new moniker on the back to reflect both of his parents’ surnames. It has been reported that this deal includes a buy-back option for the Reds.

“I’m buzzing to be here. I feel like it’s the right time for me and it’s a great opportunity to play regular football at the highest level,” said Gannon Doak after his move was announced.

“It feels like the perfect fit. The team play very nice football. It’s fast and it really suits my game, so I felt like I couldn’t say no to the chance to play here.”

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