Liverpool defensive shakeup begins as new signing confirmed | OneFootball

Liverpool’s centre-back shakeup has begun.

Last summer sporting director Richard Hughes signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma for a fee of £26m. He also took the decision to send Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen in a £30m deal - securing a 2027 buyback option on the England international.

And this winter has also brought big changes to the heart of the defence. Deals have been wrapped up for two emerging talents with Noah Adekoya joining from Burnley and Mor Talla Ndiaye coming in from Senegalese side Amitie.

Neither is expected to go straight into the first-team picture - with a stint with Rob Page’s under-21 side likely.

But it proves that Hughes and Liverpool’s recruiters are planning for the long term - with Ibrahima Konate out of contract in the summer and Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk seeing their terms expire in 2027.

Leoni and Mor Talla will in good time end up as bonafide first-team stars for the Reds and the announcement of a summer deal for another top defensive prospect has just been issued.

Liverpool to clinch Ndukwe signing

Ifeanyi Ndukwe, 17, was scouted at the recent FIFA under-17 World Cup - the same tournament in which Ndiaye was discovered.

He was part of the Austria squad which reached the final and now it’s been confirmed that he will link up with the Reds in summer 2026.

Liverpool announced the deal on Monday - with Ndukwe’s original club Austria Vienna following suit.

The Austrian Bundesliga side disclosed that Liverpool had secured an option to buy Ndukwe next summer adding that it was a “win-win” deal even if the Premier League giants decided not to action that option.

"Win-win" deal for Austria Vienna

"It is a great honour that one of the world's best football clubs has shown interest in one of our home-grown players,” said sporting director Michael Wagner.

“The agreement with Liverpool FC is structured in such a way that Austria Wien will come out well in any scenario, regardless of whether the option is exercised or not. For me, this is a clear win-win situation for both clubs.

“In this case, the overall package – both Liverpool FC's offer to Austria and the prospects for Ifeanyi Ndukwe – was a perfect fit for everyone involved."

Ndukwe was not eligible to transfer to Liverpool this winter owing to his age. The stopper doesn’t turn 18 until March and the first available window for him to join the Anfield side comes in summer.

“The Austrian-born defender, who turns 18 in March, will link up with the Reds' U21 squad in the summer,” Liverpool’s announcement reveals.

No doubt the club will be hoping he follows the examples set by Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni - signed as underage players but who wasted no time on their journey to the first team.