Liverpool have officially signed Samuel Martinez, signing the 17-year-old for £750,000 from Atletico Nacional with his arrival deferred to 2027.
Much like the deal to sign 15-year-old Michael Mulholland from Crusaders, the signing cannot be legally made until he turns 18, but Martinez is, for all intents and purposes, a Liverpool player.
In an official statement made on the club’s website, they report: “Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Samuel Martinez from Atletico Nacional.
“The 17-year-old attacking midfielder will join the Reds’ Academy ranks ahead of the 2027-28 season, after a move to bring him to the club was completed.
“Martinez starred for Colombia as they were winners of the U17 South American Championship in April.
“He featured in all six of his country’s games at the tournament and registered three assists, including one each in the 3-0 semi-final defeat of Brazil and 4-0 final victory over Argentina.”
Why can Martinez only join Liverpool in 2027 when he turns 18?
FIFA regulations dictate that players cannot make international transfers until they are legally able to make the decision as an adult.
Article 19 of FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players dictates:
Any player under the age of 18 generally cannot make an international transfer to a club or country
There are only a handful of exceptions and they must be approved by FIFA
Martinez currently plays for Atletico Nacional in Colombia and so falls under a different football association. These rules do not prevent teeangers below the age of 18 to move within England, but apply only to players from other countries.
Liverpool beat the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona to the punch, signing Martinez, who has been likened to a young Ricardo Kaka.
Nacional negotiated a sell-on clause in the deal which could see them benefit financially much more than they are now if he leaves the Reds for a sizeable fee in the future.
Martinez is already 6 ft tall, and with young men only maturing physically around 21, he may still grow to be much taller.
More exciting, however, is his technical command of the football. He is a typically entertaining South American and is a fantastic acquisition for the future of LFC.
Michael first started supporting Liverpool after Istanbul in 2006. He has since followed the Reds with passion and curiosity, founding Rousing the Kop, Anfield Central while briefly co-owning Anfield Watch. Michael lives in Cape Town, South Africa.