Liverpool have formally showed they’ve agreed a deal in idea to signal the highly-rated Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Vienna.
The transfer, which stays topic to global clearance, marks some other strategic signing for the Reds as they proceed to prioritise the recruitment of elite younger skill from around the continent.
The membership introduced that the defender will stay in Austria for the rest of the present marketing campaign prior to linking up with the Liverpool U21 squad in the summertime of 2026.
Who’s Ifeanyi Ndukwe?Photograph by means of Liverpool FC
Ndukwe has swiftly turn out to be one of the crucial talked-about defensive possibilities in Ecu soccer.
These days 17 years outdated, the center-back will flip 18 in March, clearing the best way for his transfer to Merseyside.
Ndukwe’s recognition skyrocketed throughout the 2025 U17 International Cup in Qatar. He used to be a cornerstone of the Austrian facet that reached the overall, showing in all however one in every of their suits as they completed as runners-up to Portugal.
His performances, together with a notable function in a 4-0 thrashing of England, stuck the eye of scouts from a number of top-tier golf equipment, together with Inter Milan and more than a few Bundesliga facets.
On the membership degree, Ndukwe has been a mainstay for Austria Vienna’s reserve facet, the “Young Violets,” within the Austrian 2d department.
His technical composure and bodily dominance have already observed him built-in into the senior setup, showing at the matchday bench 9 occasions this season.
Ndukwe is not going to resolve Liverpool’s pressing centre-back want
Whilst the signing is an important coup for the academy, it’s not going to offer rapid aid for Arne Slot’s senior squad.
Liverpool’s defensive intensity has been some degree of competition lately, with Virgil van Dijk turning 35 this 12 months and Ibrahima Konaté’s contract scenario final a subject matter of debate.
Moreover, the Reds have handled setbacks within the senior marketplace, together with a major damage to summer season signing Giovanni Leoni and a failed pursuit of Marc Guehi.
Additionally they misplaced Joe Gomez to an damage towards Joe Gomez, leaving Ibrahima Konate as your best option along Van Dijk.
Liverpool stay related with Micky van de Ven however that could be a transfer anticipated for the summer season.
As a result of Ndukwe is slated to enroll in the U21 squad to start with, his arrival is a long-term “future-proofing” transfer somewhat than a January repair for the primary group’s present defensive hurdles.
The deal, reportedly price an preliminary £2.6 million, suggests Liverpool imagine they’ve secured a world-class skill prior to his marketplace worth explodes. For now, alternatively, the Anfield trustworthy will have to wait till subsequent season to peer the “Austrian giant” in motion.
