Liverpool’s summer centre-back signing Ifeanyi Ndukwe has made his senior debut for Austria Vienna, months ahead of his switch to Merseyside.
Liverpool announced a deal in principle for Ndukwe in January, worth around £2.6 million plus bonuses, as the club’s investment in young defensive talent continued.
As he was 17 at the time of the agreement, he was unable to join the club in the winter due to FIFA rules blocking overseas transfers for players aged 17 or below.
Now 18, he will be considered initially as a signing for the academy, meaning he will be expected to join Rob Page’s U21s squad for pre-season in July.
And he will arrive having already made his senior debut after coming off the bench for Austria Vienna in their 2-0 derby win against Rapid Vienna.
It was only a brief cameo in stoppage time, but Ndukwe, wearing the No. 66 shirt, will not forget his first appearance for the club he joined as an eight-year-old after 15 appearances on the bench.
The 18-year-old managed one touch and won his only aerial duel during his limited time on the pitch, as per FotMob, which will act as a confidence builder for the 6’5″ centre-back.
Austria Vienna, currently fourth in the table, have one game remaining this season against current league leaders LASK, who need a win to make sure of the title.
Who is Ifeanyi Ndukwe?
Liverpool centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe completes his transfer from Austria Vienna. Credit: @as1sports (IG)
Name: Ifeanyi Ndukwe
Age: 18 (born: March 3, 2008)
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Nationality: Austrian, Nigerian, Russian
Club: Austria Vienna
Position: Centre-back
Height: 6’5″ (198cm)
Shirt number: 66
Market value: €3m
Ndukwe is an 18-year-old centre-back currently plying his trade primarily for Austria Vienna U21s and made his first-team debut on May 10.
Born to a Nigerian father and Russian mother, Ndukwe has been a regular for Austria U17s, including a run to last year’s U17s World Cup, with the only loss coming against Portugal in the final.
He is a right-sided centre-back who is remarkably tall for his age at 6’5″ but still possesses considerable pace, which aids him in the recovery.
He also possesses a strong passing range, including pinpoint long balls with his natural right foot, which has drawn early comparisons to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
Ndukwe joins two more young centre-backs in Mor Talla Ndiaye, 18, and Noah Adekoya, 19, in signing with Liverpool, with the duo having already made their debuts for the U21s.