Joel Ordonez runs with the ball during the Belgian Pro League football match between Club Brugge and Sint-Truidense V.V, at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Brugge on September 21, 2025. (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR / Belga / AFP) /placeholder image
Joel Ordonez runs with the ball during the Belgian Pro League football match between Club Brugge and Sint-Truidense V.V, at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Brugge on September 21, 2025. (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR / Belga / AFP) / | Belga/AFP via Getty Images
Liverpool have been among the clubs linked with Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez.
A defender linked with a move to Liverpool has declared that he was a ‘big fan’ during his childhood.
There have been suggestions that the Reds are monitoring Joel Ordonez of Club Brugge. Reports in the centre-back’s native Ecuador said that a move to Anfield was close in the January transfer window, although Liverpool sources played down that suggestion. Arne Slot’s side instead agreed to sign Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes.
Still, it is likely that Ordonez will eventually depart Club Brugge at some stage of his career. The 21-year-old is also supposedly on the radar of Chelsea, while Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuwssuggested that Crystal Palace had a £35 million bid turned down on winter transfer deadline day.
Asked whether he could have joined Palace to replace Marc Guehi, who was sold to Manchester City, Ordonez told Gazet van Antwerpen:”That could be. But I wanted to finish the season at Club anyway, so that wasn’t an option.”
Ordonez, set to represent Ecuador at this summer’s World Cup, declared that he is interested in a move to the Premier League at some stage - and grew up as a Liverpool supporter. “I hope so,” said the centre-back. “It would be great if I could go to the Premier League. That’s my favourite league, which, given my size, should suit me well. As a child, I was also a big Liverpool fan.”
Whether Liverpool make a move for Ordonez remains to be seen. With the Reds signing Jacquet, 20, for up to £60 million, as well as recruiting Giovanni Leoni, 19, from Parma last summer for £26 millio, they are well stocked in terms of young centre-backs.
Liverpool also brought Mor Talla Ndiaye, 18, from Senegalese side Amitie FC while they have a deal in principal with Austria Wren to bring in Ifeanyi Ndukwe, 17, at the end of the campaign.
Still, the fact that Ordonez has declared he is a Reds fan bodes well in terms of the club’s pull. Yan Diomande, the RB Leipzig winger who is said to be on Liverpool’s radar, has also suggested he would like to represent the Anfield outfit in his career with his dad a big supporter.
Diomande, who has recorded 10 goals and seven assists for Leipzig this season, then clarified his comments in an interview with BILD. He said: “People made it out to be my dream club. But first and foremost, it’s my dad’s favourite club.
“It was always his great wish to see me there someday because he loves the atmosphere at Anfield. He always raved about Steven Gerrard. I was too young to see him play. We didn’t even have a TV at home for a long time. I have a lot of respect for Liverpool, but my dream club right now is Leipzig.“
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