Liverpool’s recruitment drive at youth level has increasingly focused on early identification rather than late bidding wars. European competition for elite teenage defenders has become intense.
Clubs now move before reputations fully explode. That approach has shaped Liverpool’s recent youth strategy, especially in Africa, where Under-17 tournaments often serve as the first global shop window.
The Under-17 AFCON and World Cup remain key scouting grounds. They are short tournaments, but they reveal traits that matter.
Composure under pressure. Defensive timing. Recovery speed. Liverpool’s scouts have followed these competitions closely in recent years, knowing that centre-backs who stand out at that level rarely stay hidden for long.
Several European clubs monitor the same profiles, which makes timing critical.
This is why Liverpool have been working quietly. The club has tracked a young defender who impressed across multiple tournaments and drew strong analytical backing.
His performances were not defined by goals or headlines. They were built on positioning, duels, and game reading. In youth tournaments, that often separates prospects from projects.
U17 international centre-back El Hadji Mor Talla Ndiaye is set to sign for Liverpool from Amitié FC in Senegal. Ndiaye has been a standout performer at the Under-17 AFCON and will join Liverpool this month.
He currently represents Amitié FC and Senegal at youth level. He turns 18 on January 6, 2026.
Talla Ndiaye’s name started gaining attention during the U17 World Cup last November. The Senegalese centre-back turned heads in his team’s opening match against Croatia, showing off a solid performance that had people talking.
His play was backed up by impressive stats. He earned a rating of 7.5 out of 10, just behind teammate Lamine Mbengue, who scored 7.6.
Ndiaye’s defensive work was especially noteworthy—he made six interceptions, cleared the ball seven times, and won five out of nine duels. To top it off, he also managed to recover possession five times, proving his value on the field.
That performance helped shape his reputation. He was later nicknamed the “Senegalese Wall” during the tournament.
Physically, Ndiaye who stands at around 1.85m, is known for his reading of the game and aerial dominance. Scouting circles have tracked him for months, but Liverpool have now moved decisively.
Le défenseur central international U17 Mor Talla Ndiaye va signer à Liverpool en provenance d’Amitié FC 🇸🇳🔥
[@Saikouseydi1] pic.twitter.com/XMGPauNR1q
— Joueurs SN 🇸🇳 (@JoueursSN) January 4, 2026
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