Levante UD v Sevilla FC - LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Liverpool fans can look forward to some new young stars developing at Anfield in the coming years after the club’s aggressive youth recruitment drive.
Of all the talented youngsters to arrive at the club over the last couple of years, perhaps the most exciting is centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who showed off just how high his ceiling is during a stunning pre-season with Liverpool this summer.
Ndukwe has since moved to Levante on loan in order to be granted a UK work permit, and although things started off slowly for the 18-year-old in Spain, he made his first start – and duly scored an injury-time equaliser – against Sevilla on Monday. Happily, Ndukwe has now followed that up with a second consecutive start as Levante faced Deportivo La Coruna on Friday night. Though there was no goal this time, the Austrian once again showed why there is such excitement surrounding him.
With Szoboszlai, Isak and Gakpo still doubts, is this how you would line up against Brentford? 🤔 Gravenberch is suspended for this one
Could you start Barcola through the middle? He played there a little bit for PSG and Lyon
@freddie Go ask Birmingham, Hull or Stoke fans what they think of him (they've seen much more of him than we have) and come back to me mate!!
It was so tight, it was just unlucky! Very harsh on a player who’s not had many chances due to him having two £100m+ strikers ahead of him and now wingers who cost the same! Think he’s been brilliant and working hard only adds to that, I’m a big Koumas fan. Gotta lead the line for me, deserves it!
Ifeanyi Ndukwe delivers again for Levante
Although there was some frustration over Ndukwe’s playing time after initially joining Levante, this was always likely to be a premature reaction. Despite him playing beyond his years, it is worth remembering that the centre-back is just 18 after all.
Having got his considerably long legs under the table in Valencia, Ndukwe is now starting to show what he is all about, and it is impressive in itself that coach Luis Castro has decided to drop the experienced Aissa Mandi for the Liverpool loanee.
That decision paid off against Sevilla, even if Ndukwe did make an error for the opening goal of the game. And Castro opted for him again at Deportivo, with Ndukwe playing the full 90 minutes as Levante again scored a late equaliser.
The standout thing about him during his pre-season with Liverpool was his ability on the ball, and Ndukwe demonstrated this at Riazor, where he completed 50 of his 58 attempted passes and an impressive four out of five long balls.
Four of those passes were aimed into the final third, demonstrating his front-footedness, while Ndukwe also managed three touches in Deportivo’s box.
The sheer size of the former Austria Vienna youngster is also notable, and he is a magnet for winning headers. With Deportivo often sending the ball long towards the Levante defence, this was needed on Friday. Ndukwe made three headed clearances, as well as five further clearances and two recoveries.
His duel success could be improved, with his final tally standing at one out of four in terms of aerial success and one out of two on the ground duels, but otherwise, this was another strong showing from the teenager.
Playing in the left central position of Levante’s back line, Ndukwe gave an insight into how he could one day step up and fill Virgil van Dijk’s role for Liverpool, and although there are still steps to be made and a long season of refinement ahead, this was another good step towards a future at Anfield.
Ndukwe has now well and truly broken into the starting XI at Levante, and while this may not be a permanent promotion and there will be ups and downs ahead, it is a case of so far so good for one of the biggest talents at Liverpool.