CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Ifeanyi Ndukwe during the pre-match warm-up before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Ifeanyi Ndukwe during the pre-match warm-up before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Ifeanyi Ndukwe will have to be sent on loan for the start of the 2026/27 season, but there is a chance he could return and play for Liverpool from January.
The 18-year-old has been one of the standout performers in pre-season, offering a reliable presence at centre-back amid notable senior absences.
The blow for Andoni Iraola is that the 6’6″ defender cannot be retained in any capacity, at least in the first half of the campaign, due to failing to meet the requirements for a UK work permit.
It means Ndukwe has to be sent on loan to accumulate the necessary points to receive a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) from the FA, which Liverpool will then use to obtain a work visa.
To qualify automatically, Ndukwe needs to score 15 points across several categories, and that means Liverpool need to find a club in a Band 1-3 league that will give the defender minutes.
How Ifeanyi Ndukwe can get a work permit by January
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Ifeanyi Ndukwe during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Ifeanyi Ndukwe during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Ndukwe could return to Liverpool in the January transfer window and play out the second half of the season if he reaches the threshold, but that will require finding the right club.
In simple terms, the points system is calculated by the minutes played and the strength of the domestic league or continental tournament he will play in.
For example, if Ndukwe was sent to a Band 1 club (Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1) and played 80-90 percent of their minutes, he would accumulate 10 points.
A further five, needed to reach the 15-point threshold, could then be achieved by continental competition minutes (Champions League, Europa League etc.).
Ndukwe has yet to make his senior international debut for Austria, but if he could earn a competitive appearance that would also add to his points tally.
Other factors that contribute include whether the loan club advances in a European competition, and the quality of the league he joins.
It is possible, therefore, that Ndukwe could only need to complete an initial half-season loan to obtain his UK work permit, but that would require regular involvement.
While his quality would justify that, potential loan clubs could be wary of Liverpool wanting Ndukwe back for January, which could put off suitors wanting a defender for the entire season.
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Ifeanyi Ndukwe challenges for a header with Leeds United's captain Ethan Ampadu (R) during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Ifeanyi Ndukwe challenges for a header with Leeds United's captain Ethan Ampadu (R) during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Moreover, Liverpool could also call on the FA’s exceptions panel if Ndukwe obtains 10 to 14 points, allowing them to argue that exceptional circumstances stopped him getting to 15 or that he has shown enough potential and quality to “enhance the development of the game in England.”
That would likely be a last resort, but it shows the possible avenues the club could pursue if they were intent on having Ndukwe back at Liverpool for the second half of the season.
Nunez Araujo
Nunez Araujo
Football – Pre-Season Friendly – Liverpool FC v AS Monaco
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Football – Pre-Season Friendly – Liverpool FC v AS Monaco
Football - Pre-Season Friendly - Liverpool FC v AS Monaco
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