Ifeanyi Ndukwe: Liverpool teenager limited to friendlies by work-permit rules
Ifeanyi Ndukwe, an 18-year-old centre-back signed from Austria Vienna, has emerged during Liverpool's first pre-season under new manager Andoni Iraola but cannot play in competitive matches in 2026 owing to UK work-permit rules; he started against Monaco at Anfield on Sunday and will only be available for friendlies for now.
Liverpool have played four pre-season friendlies so far, winning against Sunderland and Wrexham and losing to Leeds and Monaco after surrendering two-goal leads; injuries and absences in central defence — Joe Gomez picked up an injury in the first pre-season game, Jeremy Jacquet has been absent with a knee issue and Giovanni Leoni is recovering from a serious knee injury — have increased Ndukwe's opportunities for minutes.
Ndukwe has already logged two full 90-minute matches and an 80-minute appearance in pre-season and was selected to start alongside captain Virgil van Dijk against Monaco; the 6ft 6in (1.98m) teenager produced a backheel to wrong-foot Monaco's Mika Biereth, won important defensive duels and, according to the report, won 100% of his duels against Monaco.
Under the post-Brexit points system Ndukwe does not currently have enough criteria to obtain a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) for a UK work visa, so he is barred from competitive fixtures in 2026; the alternative is an Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) slot, but Premier League and Championship clubs earn up to four ESC places based on the percentage of minutes given to England Qualified Players (EQP) the previous season, with 35% the threshold to use all four slots.
Liverpool's EQP percentage last season limited them to one ESC place, which has been allocated to Senegalese 18-year-old Mor Talla Ndiaye, and the club's recent changes included the departures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarell Quansah and Tyler Morton and the loaning out of Harvey Elliott; Freddie Woodman, Joe Gomez, Rhys Williams, Curtis Jones, Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha were described as the only English players in Liverpool's squad, playing a collective 83 times in the Premier League.
Ndukwe came through the Austria Vienna academy and made one senior appearance after time with the club's reserve side; an impressive display for Austria at the Under-17 World Cup in November last year prompted Liverpool to agree a deal in principle in January, with the £2.6m transfer becoming official this summer once he turned 18.
Virgil van Dijk labelled Ndukwe a "big talent" after sharing the first-half with him against Monaco and added: "Obviously, I saw the games in pre-season in America," Van Dijk added. "Big talent, big guy and he wants to learn. I had a brief conversation with him, especially in the last couple of days. For him, it is just progressing. I know he has to go on loan I think so let's see where he ends up. "The matter of fact is that he has to go on loan and wherever he goes, he needs to learn, get better and be ready when he comes back to hopefully stay there." In July Ndukwe's agent Georg Lederer told Sky Sports Austria: "A loan club will now be found where Ifeanyi can gain playing experience at a very high level. "Despite this change, we see the situation as a great opportunity for Ifeanyi. Several top international clubs have already expressed concrete interest." Lederer told BBC Sport on Monday that they are still in the process of deciding where Ndukwe goes in Europe.
Ndukwe must accrue 15 points across specified categories while out on loan to qualify automatically for a UK visa, and the article states that with the right loan move the necessary points could be reached by January, which would allow a recall and potential availability for Liverpool after the turn of the year; he will remain eligible to play in Liverpool's final pre-season friendly against Como on 16 August and a decision on his next steps is expected within the next fortnight.