Liverpool fans watching Ifeanyi Ndukwe during their opening two pre-season games will be gutted to learn that the 18-year-old is not eligible to play for the first team this season.
Brexit has taken a lot from UK residents, but Scousers have another reason to be upset about it all now that Ndukwe will not get the chance to play for Liverpool this season due to work permit issues.
Why is Ndukwe ineligible to play for Liverpool this season?
Liverpool signed Ndukwe from Austria Vienna for £2.6m, but due to issues with his work permit, he will not get the chance to represent them in the coming season.
Four days ago, James Pearce reported for The Athletic that “he doesn’t meet the required points total to get a work permit in the UK.”
What needs to change:
- To play for a Premier League team, a player must obtain a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) from the FA, which a club uses to acquire a work visa from the Home Office.
- Automatic qualification requires 15 points across a variety of categories or meet senior international appearances minimums
Consequently, Ndukwe will need to go out on loan outside the UK to gain the required points to return to Anfield next summer. Disappointing as it is, he will return with valuable experience and even more hunger to prove himself at Liverpool, although his performance against Wrexham suggests he’s already equipped to be of use to Andoni Iraola.
Ndukwe shines in pre-season again
He’s only 18, but the young defender seems to already have all the tools required to play at the top level besides the experience of having played extensive first-team football.
18-year-old CB Ifeanyi Ndukwe with another solid performance yesterday for Liverpool ???
pic.twitter.com/BIVWON0RNZ https://t.co/D1XPaQaeN3— Living Liverpool (@Livin_Liverpool) July 30, 2026
Ndukwe is 6 ft 6 (!) but also has an impressive leap. It’s not often that you see such a big lad in football also be very athletic. Joel Matip, for example, rarely jumped, relying on his massive frame to do all the work for him.
Up against a very physical Championship team in Wrexham, Ndukwe was not taking his height for granted, leaping even higher than he already stands to win aerial duels for fun.
? Ifeanyi Ndukwe, signed for £2.6m from Austria Vienna this summer, was the only player to play 90 minutes vs. Wrexham.
The 18-year-old again stood out – and not just because he's 6’6?! He looks composed on the ball and strong off it.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t meet the… pic.twitter.com/sQefhPoCkD
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) July 30, 2026
Some background info on Ndukwe
Born to a Nigerian father and a Russian mother in Vienna, the teenager began his football journey at WAF Brigittenau before joining Austria Wien’s academy in 2016.
The giant centre-back captained Austria at U16 level before he became a regular starter for Austria Wien II in 2024/25, helping them achieve promotion to the 2. Liga.
After signing a three-year pro deal with the club in 2024/25, Liverpool swooped in to sign him this summer for a fee reported to be in the region of £2.6m (€3m).
