Calm down, he’s not intended to bolster the current threadbare first team squad
The Reds have added a center back, but one for the future — the youthful defender won’t arrive on Merseyside until the end of the season.
Liverpool have officially reported an agreement in principle to sign 17-year-old defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Vienna, given international clearance. Ndukwe has played with the Vienna youth side, and has been in the senior squad for nine match days thus far in the 2025/26 season, but is yet to make his debut.
The Austrian youth international will join the U21 squad in the summer. Given his age, Ndukwe would not be considered defensive cover at present even if this were a winter window move — he turns 18 in March.
He has played for his country at the youth level, and Austria were runners-up in the 2025 U17 World Cup. He signed his first professional contract with Austria Vienna in June 2025.
He is reportedly best as a right-sided center back, so could be seen as succession planning for Virgil Van Dijk. The teenager is 6’5” and plays with an attacking, front-footed style with the Austrian youth international side.
According to Austrian outlet Laola1, Liverpool are set to pay £2.6 million for the youngster’s services.
Category: General Sports
