Oldham Athletic have continued their preparations for the forthcoming season by signing Anton Rodgers on a one-year contract.
The 20-year-old was a free agent after being released by Brighton after two years at the club and is the son of Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
The midfielder signed for Chelsea at the age of 13 but was released from their academy five years later and is hoping he will now get regular first-team football.
“I have reached the age where I need to play games – and hopefully it will happen here,” he told the club’s website
“The biggest thing is to have the opportunity to play games which the gaffer has said he will give me.
“There are a lot of young players here, and it is the perfect club for me.”
Rodgers moved to Brighton in May 2011 and made his professional debut seven months later against Wrexham in the FA Cup.
In 2010, Rodgers made his international debut for Republic of Ireland Under-19s despite his eligibility for England through birth and Northern Ireland through parentage.
Last season he had a loan spell with League Two side Exeter City where he made two appearances.
After impressing on trial, which included playing in the friendly against Dinamo Bucharest, Latics have signed him up with the option to extend the deal for a further 12 months.
“I really like it here and there is a family feel about the club,” added Rodgers.
“The boys have been brilliant and from day one have been great, even though they made me sing”
This is not the first occasion Oldham have signed the son of a Premier League manager as Roberto Mancini’s youngest son Andrea was on loan in 2011.
The Italian moved to Boundary Park with former Manchester City teammate Luca Scapuzzi but made only two substitute appearances against Bury and Crewe Alexandra.
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