Liverpool has reached a deal which will see Austria U17 star Ifeanyi Ndukwe join the club in the summer, with the young defender having hailed it as a 'dream come true'
James Findlater Content Editor
22:55, 26 Jan 2026
DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 18: Ifeanyi Ndukwe of Austria celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal with teammates during the FIFA Under-17 World Cup Round of 16 match between Austria and England at Aspire Academy on November 18, 2025 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Jurij Kodrun - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Ifeanyi Ndukwe is set to join Liverpool in the summer(Image: Getty Images)
Ifeanyi Ndukwe has called his expected move to Liverpool this summer a “dream come true” after a deal was agreed with Austria Vienna.
The Austrian club confirmed on Monday that the Reds have secured the option to sign the 17-year-old center-back later this year, with the option available until the end of June 2026. Ndukwe and his representatives also confirmed the news on social media.
The teenager is expected to link up with Liverpool’s academy ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, joining fellow new signing Mor Talla Ndiaye, who completed his move to the Reds earlier in the January transfer window.
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Although his move to Anfield is yet to be finalized, it is expected that Ndukwe will join the club in the summer, with Austria Vienna sporting director Michael Wagner having hailed the deal as a “win-win” for both clubs.
Ndukwe is already looking ahead to his move to Merseyside, where he hopes to put himself to the test against some of the world’s biggest names.
“The transfer to Liverpool is a dream come true for me,” Ndukwe told Sky Sport Austria after the deal was confirmed.
“I would like to sincerely thank my family, Austria Vienna, and my agency, More than Sport. Everyone has supported and prepared me for this moment. Now I want to compete against the best in the world.”
Ifeanyi Ndukwe helped Austria reach the final of the U17 World Cup last year
Ndukwe helped Austria reach the final of the U17 World Cup last year(Image: Getty Images)
Ndukwe will head to Liverpool having caught the eye of the club’s scouts during last year’s U17 World Cup, in which he helped Austria to reach the final.
The 6-foot-5 center-back helped his nation past the likes of England and Italy on the way to the final, with Austria conceding just two goals in eight games as it finished as runner-up to Portugal.
Ndukwe is yet to make an appearance for Austria Vienna’s first-team, although he has been named on the bench seven times in the Austrian Bundesliga this season, while making seven appearances in the 2nd League for the club’s Young Violets.
"It is a great honor that one of the world's best football clubs has shown interest in one of our home-grown players,” Wagner told Austria Vienna’s website.
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“The agreement with Liverpool FC is structured in such a way that Austria Wien will come out well in any scenario, regardless of whether the option is exercised or not. For me, this is a clear win-win situation for both clubs.”
Wagner added: “We were aware that there would be a lot of interest in our three U17 team players in particular after they reached the World Cup final. Basically, our goal is for our talented players to first establish themselves in the first team and thus recommend themselves for higher tasks.
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“In this case, the overall package – both Liverpool FC's offer to Austria and the prospects for Ifeanyi Ndukwe – was a perfect fit for everyone involved."