Joe Gomez has spent nearly his entire professional career at Liverpool, and now, after 11 years at Anfield, the defender is facing a pivotal summer that could determine his future with the club.
Arriving in 2015 as a poised teenager with exceptional speed and intelligence, Gomez quickly established himself as a defender of quiet authority. Now 28, he turns 29 on the final weekend of the season, with just one year remaining on his contract. The question surrounding him is no longer about talent—it's about consistency, playing time, and opportunity.
This season, Gomez has made 31 appearances across all competitions, but only 15 of those have been starts. Over the last two campaigns combined, he has managed just 48 appearances, a frustrating stop-start pattern that has defined his recent years at the club.
Liverpool's defensive landscape is shifting rapidly. The club is set to complete a £60 million deal for Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes, while both Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley are expected to return from serious knee injuries. That leaves Gomez—still valued for his versatility across the back four—facing an increasingly crowded path to regular first-team football.
There remains a strong case for keeping him. Gomez is Liverpool's longest-serving current player, a Premier League and Champions League winner, and one of the few defenders capable of covering every position across the back line. In a grueling season, that kind of reliability is invaluable.
But football moves fast. Newcastle were linked with a move last summer, and AC Milan have been mentioned this season. At 29, Gomez may now need the one thing Liverpool can no longer guarantee: regular starting minutes.
When asked about his future by the Liverpool Echo, Gomez offered no assurances—only honesty.
"No. I think anything can happen. I don't know is the honest answer," he said. "I've only got a year left so I don't know, but whatever is meant to be will be, I guess. But I'm so grateful to have had this time here at this club. I'll always be grateful to have had 11 years at a place like this. All I can do is be thankful and we'll see."
For Liverpool, this summer could bring another difficult farewell to a player who has given so much to the club. For Gomez, it may be the moment he finally steps out of the shadows and into a starring role elsewhere.