Liverpool seal agreement as Fabrizio Romano gives the green light for January business, with club confirmation following.

Liverpool are said to have reached an agreement in principle to sign Ifeanyi Ndukwe, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

The Reds have reportedly wrapped up a deal in advance of the summer window for the highly rated 17-year-old centre-back, continuing their drive to recruit some of Europe’s most promising young prospects.

Liverpool close in on Ifeanyi Ndukwe move from Austria Wien

Romano revealed the update on X (formerly Twitter), with Austria Wien understood to have officially confirmed the agreement.

Ndukwe has made eight appearances for Wien’s youth side during the 2025/26 campaign, logging 548 minutes of game time.

Despite his age, the teenager already measures an imposing 6ft 5in, underlining his physical presence.
Ndukwe arrival doesn’t fix Liverpool’s centre-back concerns

That said, Ndukwe’s signing does little to immediately resolve Liverpool’s ongoing centre-back dilemma.
Virgil van Dijk, whose contract runs until 2027, remains the cornerstone of the defence, but the club must start planning for a long-term successor to one of its greatest modern defenders.

Ibrahima Konaté’s situation is far less clear, with contract discussions yet to produce a breakthrough under Arne Slot.

There are also concerns surrounding Giovanni, who continues to recover from a serious ACL injury, a setback that threatens to derail what once looked like immense potential following his standout Carabao Cup display against Southampton.

While Liverpool are reportedly monitoring other defensive options — including Club Brugge’s Joel Ordóñez — these are not expected to materialise in January.

Defensive depth was further tested when Joe Gomez suffered another injury after colliding with Alisson Becker in the 3-2 loss to Bournemouth. While the incident was unfortunate, it once again highlighted the defender’s persistent fitness issues.

Ultimately, Liverpool require centre-backs who can stay fit and deliver consistently — and in Van Dijk’s case, offer longevity at the highest level.