Liverpool surprised their fans on Friday after news broke that centre-back wonderkid Ifeanyi Ndukwe will be signed this summer.
The 17-year-old may not be a household name just yet, but as anyone who watched his performances at the U17 World Cup in November will attest, he soon could be.
Liverpool are set to sign Ndukwe for the 2026/27 season, and according to The Athletic he will initially form part of Rob Page’s U21 squad.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe celebrates after scoring for Austria against England during the U17 FIFA World Cup.
Photo by Jurij Kodrun – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
mail iconJoin our newsletter for news & smart analysis.
How excited are you by Liverpool’s move for Ifeanyi Ndukwe? 😃
The 17-year-old is a HUGE prospect
Austria's Ifeanyi Ndukwe celebrates after scoring during the FIFA U17 World Cup match against England (Credit: Getty Images/Jurij Kodrun - FIFA).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Jurij Kodrun/FIFA
DOB: 03/03/2008
Position: Centre-Back
Favoured foot: Right/both
Height: 1.98m
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
While this is exciting news, it does offer up the question of whether Liverpool are planning a first-team centre-back signing this January.
A move for Joel Ordonez has been downplayed, and the arrival of Ndukwe unfortunately suggests that Liverpool are plotting for the future rather than the here and now.
Liverpool focusing on long-term centre-back plan
Liverpool clearly have designs on introducing Ndukwe to the senior team. He turns 18 in March, and being only 15 months younger than Giovanni Leoni, for example, it is not unrealistic that that happens next season.
While Arne Slot is unlikely to head into the campaign counting on Ndukwe, Liverpool will not want to block his path in the same manner they have attempted with Rio Ngumoha.
Tomas Soares of Portugal is challenged by Austria's Ifeanyi Nduwke during a match at the FIFA U17 World Cup
Photo by Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
READ MORE: Liverpool fans couldn’t be clearer about what they now want to happen with Arne Slot
As a result, it does now feel unlikely that Liverpool will do further business for a senior centre-half in January.
Assuming Ibrahima Konate leaves at the end of the season, and a more senior player such as Marc Guehi arrives, Liverpool could then be satisfied with what they have.
Guehi, Leoni, Virgil van Dijk, possibly Joe Gomez and then Ndukwe in reserve looks like a healthy list of options for Slot. Some fans would argue that Liverpool need one more, and they do if Gomez leaves, but with the 28-year-old still at the club, we would not expect a new addition this month.
How happy would you be if Liverpool sign Joel Ordonez?
A move is reportedly on the verge of being sealed!
Joel Ordonez of Club Brugge pictured during the UEFA Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon de Portugal at Jose Alvalade Stadium (Credit: Getty Images/Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Liverpool could be planning their future partnership
Obviously, when signing any player there is no guarantee of their level in the present or the future. That is especially true at Liverpool where the standards are so high.
However, if the Reds are as convinced by Ndukwe as they appear to be, then he should be considered a first-team player in all but name when he arrives.
Given their respective ages, it looks possible that Liverpool are planning for a future partnership of Ndukwe and Leoni.
It will take something special to eventually replace Van Dijk, and with the arrival of a Guehi bridging the gap for the time being, banking on two huge young prospects is a good plan from Liverpool.
Leoni and Ordonez would also be a fine partnership, but in going for Ndukwe, Liverpool look as though they already know what their defence will look like in two years’ time.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox