17-year-old Samuel Martinez is amongst the most coveted wonderkids in world football at the moment. Now, it seems that a top Premier League team have finally made a breakthrough.
Liverpool have seemingly agreed a deal to sign the youngster. Currently at Atlético Nacional in his native Colombia, he may well end up at Anfield ahead of next season.
According to a report from acclaimed sports journalist Florian Plettenberg on his official X (formerly Twitter) page, Martinez is ‘on his way’ to Merseyside to complete his medical. When this has been finalised, an official transfer can take place.
The deal will cost Liverpool just under £750,000 – this could prove to be an absolute steal, especially in the current market. Due to his age, he cannot join the club just yet, but will do so when he turns 18 years of age on April 5, 2027. Upon completion of the deal, he will sign a five-year contract.
🚨🩺 Samuel Martínez is on his way to Liverpool to undergo his medical. Here with his agent Daniel Neumüller.
The 17 y/o top talented midfielder will join Liverpool from Atlético Nacional in a deal worth $1 million, plus a sell-on clause.
After completing his medical, Martínez… pic.twitter.com/W0bAGhT9yP
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) July 18, 2026
Previously, several other top clubs had been in the race to strike a deal for the youngster. In particular, German outlet TZ mentioned that Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur were all interested in a potential move.
In addition to this, rivals Manchester United and Manchester City had also been tentatively linked with a transfer move for the player.
Furthermore, the Liverpool Echo reported that Barcelona had been previously monitoring the player, while TalkSPORT stated that Borussia Dortmund were also in the race.
Samuel Martinez style of play
A natural attacking midfielder who also has the necessary abilities to play deeper as a central midfielder, Martinez is an adaptable player with a very bright future in the modern game.
Martinez shows plenty of positivity on the pitch, always looking to drive forward and find space on the edge of the area. He also likes to drift into wide areas, where he can put his excellent dribbling and crossing ability to good use.
He also possesses decent defensive qualities. He reads the game very well, allowing him to latch onto loose passes and he certainly isn’t averse to putting a strong tackle in during crucial moments. On top of this, at 6ft 2, he is also very strong in the air.
An intelligent passer of the ball who keeps it very well, Martinez shows a level of maturity that is well beyond his years. If he can continue improving upon his current trajectory, Liverpool may well have unearthed an absolute diamond here.
Could Samuel Martinez be the next Luis Diaz for Liverpool?
During his time at Liverpool, Luis Diaz swiftly became a cult hero. Showing electric pace, wonderful dribbling ability and an acute eye for goal, he was one of the best players they had during Jurgen Klopp’s last few seasons at Anfield.
As such, Martinez has big shoes to fill in this regard. They’re both Colombian and are both exciting attacking players, but Martinez occupies a different position. Nevertheless, he could theoretically play as a winger, given his propensity for moving over to the flanks.
Diaz was an icon at Liverpool – Martinez will have a massive job on his hands to prove himself as a worthy successor, but he has shown some imcredibly promising signs at Nacional.
Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Facebook Share with WhatsApp Share with Email