Liverpool have been forced to change their plans for Ifeanyi Ndukwe, with the 18-year-old set to leave on loan this summer. The defender joined from Austria Wien in an initial £2.6m deal and impressed during pre-season.
Ndukwe came on as an early substitute for Joe Gomez in Liverpool's 4-2 friendly win over Sunderland, which opened their United States tour, and then played the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 victory against Wrexham.
Originally, the plan was for the teenager to remain on Merseyside for at least the first half of the season. However, after failing to qualify for a work permit, that approach has had to be abandoned.
Work permit rule change
His agent, Georg Lederer, explained to ORF, as quoted by Sky Sports Austria: "The fact is that in the 2025/26 Premier League season, clubs had two exception spots where they didn't have to reach this points target. In the new season, this extra rule will be reduced by one spot."
He added: "A loan club will now be found where Ifeanyi can gain playing experience at a very high level."
Interest from top clubs
While Ndukwe is unable to play in England, his agency, More than Sport by AS1, told Sky Sports Austria that several sides have already registered their interest. "Despite this change, we see the situation as a great opportunity for Ifeanyi," they said. "Several top international clubs have already expressed concrete interest in a loan."
"Regardless of which path he chooses, he will have the opportunity to gain regular playing time at the highest level – a prospect that would not have been guaranteed to the same extent in his first few months at Liverpool."
Liverpool commitment
The agency also detailed the original development plan: "The original plan with Liverpool was to evaluate after the first six months whether Ifeanyi was getting enough playing time in the Premier League. Only then would a decision be made about a possible loan. It was always clearly defined that his development should take place at the professional level and not through appearances for the U21 team."
"Liverpool has clearly communicated to us that they are 100% committed to Ifeanyi and plan with him, because he has already demonstrated his potential, for example, in the friendly against Sunderland."
"These recent developments give Ifeanyi the opportunity to gain valuable experience at the highest international level, receive consistent playing time, and consistently advance his sporting development."
