A general view of a Liverpool corner flag inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
A general view of a Liverpool corner flag inside the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool have reached an agreement in principal to sign Ifeanyi Ndukwe.
Austria Vienna sporting director Michael Wagner has told of pride that Liverpool have reached an agreement in principal to sign Ifeanyi Ndukwe.
The Reds can the option to sign the centre-back in the summer transfer window. Ndukwe, 17, cannot join Liverpool until he turns 18 because of post-Brexit rules.
The defender is highly regarded and helped Austria under-17s reach the World Cup final last year. They were beaten 1-0 by their Portuguese counterparts in the final.
Ndukwe is still to make his first-team debut for Austria Vienna but has been on the bench nine times this season. He attracted plenty of interest, with Italian giants Inter Milan keen. But Ndukwe has opted to sign a pre-agreement with Liverpool, withSky Sports Austria suggesting that the deal with cost the Reds £2.6 million and the teenager will sign a five-year contract.
Wagner believes that Liverpool making their move for Ndukwe shows the strength of Die Veilchen’s academy. He told the club’s website: “It’s a great honour that one of the world’s best football clubs is showing interest in one of our homegrown talents.
“The agreement with Liverpool FC is structured in such a way that Austria Vienna comes out ahead in every scenario – regardless of whether the option is exercised or not. For me, it’s a clear win-win situation for both clubs. This story is above all a great testament to the outstanding work that is done every day in our academy.
“We have several players here with enormous potential, which we want to develop even more effectively in the future, thus becoming a springboard for great talents to Europe’s top leagues – and Austria Vienna is the right club for that. We were aware that there would be significant interest in our three U17 internationals, especially after reaching the World Cup final.
“Our fundamental goal is for our talents to first establish themselves in the first team and thus recommend themselves for bigger challenges. In this case, the overall package – both Liverpool FC’s offer to Austria Vienna and the prospects for Ifeanyi Ndukwe – is ideal for everyone involved.”
Ndukwe will become the third young centre-back that Liverpool have added to their ranks. At the start of the January transfer window, they recruited Noah Adekoya from Premier League rivals Burnley. Adekoya, 19, is from Liverpool and a boyhood fan. Last season, he was captain of Burnley under-18s.
Meanwhile, Liverpool snapped up Mor Talla Ndiaye from Senegalese side Amitie FC. Ndiaye, 18, featured for his country at the recent Under-17 World Cup.
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