Liverpool youngster Ifeanyi Ndukwe cannot play for the first team in 2026 after failing to secure a UK work permit. The 18-year-old defender was absent from the club's final pre-season fixture on Sunday, which featured two matches against Serie A side Como.
Pre-season absence explained
Andoni Iraola's side drew 0-0 in a shortened 70-minute behind-closed-doors friendly at Liverpool's training centre earlier in the day. They then faced Cesc Fabregas' men again in a public match, where Cody Gakpo and Jeremy Jacquet's first-half goals sealed a 2-0 win at Anfield. Ndukwe was not involved in either game despite Iraola's two squads consisting of 30 players.
That is understood to have been a case of Iraola preferring his other central defensive options over Ndukwe, rather than due to his work permit complications, which will essentially ban him from playing for Liverpool for much of this season.
Work permit issues
The centre-back joined from Austria this summer in a £2.6million deal after he turned 18, with the Reds having agreed a deal in principle back in January. Yet, despite impressing for his new club throughout this summer's pre-season friendlies, he will not be allowed to play when Liverpool make the trip to Newcastle this Sunday for their first Premier League game of the campaign.
Since Brexit, with the UK no longer part of the European Union, clubs now have to navigate a more complex work permit system to ensure players are able to move to England. That is especially the case for those who are yet to establish themselves at the top level. Liverpool need a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) from the FA to secure a work visa from the Home Office. But the 6ft 6in defender, who came up through Austria Vienna's academy and made just one senior appearance last season, has not yet accumulated enough points to obtain a GBE to receive a work visa.
Loan move likely
Discussions are therefore ongoing over a potential loan move designed to secure his UK work permit. The club are assessing multiple opportunities and a decision is expected over the next two weeks before the summer transfer window shuts. The better the league Ndukwe plays in, the more points towards a work permit he will earn. It is understood that, with the right move, the necessary points tally could be achieved by January.
This means Ndukwe may potentially still feature for Liverpool this season, after the turn of the year if he was recalled. But that is a potential drawback for clubs interested in a loan.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has already been left impressed by his potential future centre-back partner, labelling Ndukwe a "big talent" after playing alongside him in the first half against Monaco earlier this month. "Obviously, I saw the games in pre-season in America," Van Dijk said. "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."
According to The Mail, clubs in Portugal, Germany, Spain, Denmark and France have all enquired about taking Ndukwe on loan, but there is a sense that Portugal may be his preferred destination.
