NEWPORT County AFC have reached agreement to sign Liverpool goalkeeper Jamie Stephens with a deal set to be announced imminently.

As revealed in Argus Sport, Stephens has won the race to be Lenny Pidgeley’s competition for next season after manager Brendan Rodgers opted not to give the 19-year old a new deal.

The Exiles had five goalkeepers on trial last week including Gwent’s Callum Antel, formerly with Hibernian, a French goalkeeper from club side Sochaux, a Canadian schoolboy international and former Hereford goalkeeper Dan Hanford.

However, it was Stephens who sufficiently impressed manager Justin Edinburgh and he’s struck a deal for the Forest Green Rovers fan despite the ambitious Conference side also holding interest in the player.

The lure of League Two football has proved to be the Exiles’ trump card with Stephens penning a one-year deal with an automatic extension of a further season dependent on appearances.

Stephens fits the profile of recent signings by Newport who have snapped up three players formerly with the giants of English football.

As reported in the Argus, midfielder Jamie Edge, a former Arsenal player and a six-figure signing by Gunners manager Arsene Wenger, is set to be offered a deal at Rodney Parade.

Defender Harry Worley, signed by Chelsea and Jose Mourinho for £150,000 in 2005, has also arrived at the club and now the duo are joined by Stephens, another teen previously valued at over £100,000, this time by Rafa Benitez at Liverpool.

Stephens joined Liverpool from Swindon in 2010 and spent last term on loan at Welsh Premier League outfit Airbus UK.

Described as being athletic and with fast reactions, Stephens won the Barclays Premier Academy League's save of the season award for 2010/11 for an effort against of all clubs, Manchester United.

The Argus understands Stephens has signed to provide genuine competition to number one Lenny Pidgeley after the exits of Alan Julian and Joe Perry. He is likely to be rotated with Pidgeley throughout pre-season.

A club official confirmed agreement had been reached last night but manager Justin Edinburgh was unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, the Exiles have received a welcome boost with Aaron O’Connor rejoining training.
The striker missed much of the end of last season with a groin problem, only returning off the bench for the final two games in the play-offs.

However, he’s back in light training and his return means the Exiles will travel to Germany later this week with a full compliment of players.

As we previously reported, that group will include triallist Edge.

County are still hoping to add a utility defender to the group before the start of the season but a deal for released Wimbledon man Curtis Osano failed to materialise.