Liverpool pulled out all the stops to convince Ki-Jana Hoever that his future lay at Anfield.
Chief scout Barry Hunter had been watching the talented young Dutch defender for around a year before the Reds made their move once his contract expired at Ajax last June.
Liverpool knew there was serious competition for the 16-year-old's signature with Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City among the host of top European clubs who were keen to secure his services.
Hoever and his family were invited to Merseyside where they met Hunter, Academy director Alex Inglethorpe and other key members of staff before being shown around the club's Kirkby base.
They were also given a tour of Anfield and the trophy room in the museum to whet Hoever's appetite.
The Dutch contingent were blown away by the facilities and the reception they received, but what really clinched the deal for the Reds was the talk about Jurgen Klopp's willingness to put his faith in youth.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was held up as the perfect example of the pathway that exists at Liverpool with Klopp at the helm.
The Academy graduate had made the leap from under-18s football to the first team set-up in a matter of months back in 2016. He reached a half century of senior appearances and played in a Champions League final and a World Cup all before the end of his teenage years.
Hoever and his parents returned home convinced that Liverpool was the best place for his development.
Financially, it was a no-brainer for the Reds. They only had to pay Ajax around 100,000 Euros (£90,000) for the Netherlands Under-17s international.
With Hoever too young to have signed a professional contract in his homeland, under FIFA rules there is a set compensation fee for cross-border deals based on how long a club has developed a player. Hoever had been with the Amsterdam outfit since the age of 12 having previously been on the books at AZ Alkmaar.
If Liverpool had been trying to sign a youngster of Hoever's calibre from a rival Premier League club then a tribunal, which looks at a player's potential, would in all likelihood have set a fee in excess of £1million.
Hoever was able to start showcasing his talent for the Reds once international clearance was granted in mid-September.
He started off with Barry Lewtas' under-18s but quickly made the step up to the under-19s in the UEFA Youth League.
Hoever lived up to the hype that accompanied his arrival at Kirkby. He caught the eye both at right-back and centre-back with his ability to read the game, his aerial prowess, his speed, his composure in possession and eye for a pass.
By late November he was deemed ready for his full Premier 2 debut as Liverpool Under-23s faced Everton at Goodison. He played the full 90 minutes at right wing-back as the Reds triumphed 1-0.
