Australian Jax Paterson has been playing for Liverpool’s youth academy for two years and has now inked an official deal with the club’s Under-9s.

Jax trains twice a week with the Reds with matches on Saturdays.

Last weekend his Under-9s team faced Leicester City.

“He’s stoked,” Paterson told FTBL.

“Jax loves the club as well. He’s been a fan of Liverpool for a while. They play all over but they’ve identified him as a defending midfielder. He’s two footed and works hard.

After his son signed with the English giants the 31-year-old posted on Instagram: “Beyond proud of this young man. Worked his backside off and now getting his rewards.”

Jax was born in the NSW city of Newcastle but he and his family moved to the UK in 2015 when father Cory signed to play for Super League club Salford Red Devils.

Cory had stints with the Newcastle Knights, North Queensland Cowboys and West Tigers in the NRL as a forward, but retired after a spell with the Toronto Wolfpack at the end of last year.

Jax was scouted by Liverpool after playing for a local club in England.