For Archie Brown, playing for Fenerbahce against Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday will mark another step in the justification of his own 'unorthodox' journey that began as a young boy in the Midlands. Brown was born in Birmingham and started his youth career at West Brom before joining Derby, where he helped them to their only youth top-flight title.
He scored a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over an Arsenal U18s side that included Bukayo Saka 5-2 in the final between the North and South division winners. Yet come 2021, the Englishman was frustrated by a lack of first-team opportunities and left to join Lausanne Sport in Switzerland at the age of 19.
Brown joined Belgian side Gent in 2023, before moving to Fenerbahce in a £7m deal in 2025. The Turkish Super Lig side may be struggling for form - they are sixth and nine points adrift of leaders Galatasaray after 10 games - but Brown is adamant that Andoni Iraola's Liverpool will face an almighty challenge at the 48,000-capacity Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.