Ifeanyi Ndukwe is expected to head out on loan following pre-season, with the young Liverpool defender ineligible to play for the Reds during the 2026/27 campaign
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 9: Ifeanyi Ndukwe of Liverpool during the during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco at Anfield on August 9, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Ifeanyi Ndukwe is expected to head out on loan following Liverpool's final pre-season games(Image: Getty Images)
Ifeanyi Ndukwe’s agent has confirmed he is in talks with a number of clubs across Europe as Liverpool looks to find the perfect option for the young defender’s loan.
Ndukwe is expected to be on the move following the conclusion of pre-season, with the Reds facing Italian side Como in a double-header at Anfield on Sunday before the 2026/27 Premier League campaign gets underway at Newcastle a week later.
The 18-year-old has impressed with his performances for the first team after completing his move from Austria Wien this summer, having been thrust into action by Andoni Iraola amid Liverpool’s injury problems in defense.
Ndukwe, though, is ineligible to play for Liverpool once the forthcoming season gets underway, with the 18-year-old not meeting the necessary points to get a work permit in the United Kingdom.
He will therefore be one of the many young players heading out on loan before the end of the transfer window, with reports suggesting he could be on the move as early as next week.
Speaking to Danish outlet Tipsbladet, Ndukwe’s agent Georg Lederer has confirmed he is in talks with a number of clubs, including some in Denmark, as he looks for the teenager’s next move, with Liverpool heavily involved in the search.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe has impressed for Liverpool during pre-season
Ndukwe has impressed for Liverpool during pre-season(Image: Getty Images)
“I can't say which clubs we are in dialogue with, but I can confirm that we are in dialogue with Danish clubs about Ifeanyi Ndukwe,” Lederer said. “The only thing I can say is that we are not talking about the top clubs in Denmark.
“We are also talking to several foreign clubs, but right now we need to decide, in collaboration with Liverpool, where Ifeanyi will fit best.
“We are looking at several different parameters. First and foremost, it is about Ifeanyi getting a lot of playing time, and then Liverpool are also looking at what type of football clubs play, as they want him in a high-pressing defense, so it is a bit like what you see in Liverpool.
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“Since Ifeanyi has just arrived at Liverpool, it is of course a loan agreement without an option to buy, but for now I can't see much more.”
Although Ndukwe is currently unavailable for Liverpool, there could yet be a way in which he ends up playing for the Reds this season.
The teenager could return to Anfield in January if he hits the required points for a GBE — a Governing Body Endorsement. To qualify for a U.K. work permit by the turn of the year, Ndukwe would have to play regularly for a “Band One” team in one of Europe’s top leagues.
The leagues that come under that band are the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, and Ligue 1, meaning a move to Denmark would not make him eligible for an early return.