Liverpool have completed their first signing of 2026, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the deal is fully agreed and “done.”
Liverpool are said to have wrapped up their first signing of the January window as Arne Slot looks to bolster his squad following an underwhelming start to the 2025/26 season.
The Reds are currently fourth in the Premier League and, heading into gameweek 20, trail leaders Arsenal by 12 points. They are also eight points behind Manchester City in second and six adrift of third-placed Aston Villa. Despite heavy spending in the summer, results have not fully matched expectations.
Big-money arrivals Alexander Isak (£125m) and Florian Wirtz (£116m) have yet to hit top form, while Milos Kerkez (£40m) and Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m) are still adapting to life at Anfield. Of the summer recruits, Hugo Ekitike — signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for £69m — has stood out, scoring 11 goals in 24 appearances.
Even after splashing around £446m in the previous window, Liverpool moved quickly once the January market opened on January 1. On January 2, The Athletic reported that the club were in discussions to sign highly rated 17-year-old Austria Vienna defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe.
Ndukwe, who has been closely monitored by Liverpool’s director of global talent Matt Newberry, is expected to join the club’s Under-21 setup if the transfer is completed. Standing at 6ft 5in, the centre-back has captained Austria Vienna’s Under-16 side and featured regularly for the club’s reserves during the 2024/25 season. He signed a three-year professional deal in June 2025.
A day later, Fabrizio Romano provided a major update, stating on his YouTube channel that the move is effectively completed. According to Romano, all terms have been agreed and the deal is done, with Ndukwe set to officially join Liverpool in the summer of 2026 once he turns 18.
Romano added that several Italian and German clubs had shown interest last summer, but the player chose to wait before committing his future. Liverpool have now secured his signature, with the teenager expected to take part in pre-season with Slot’s squad. He was described as a physically imposing yet quick defender, viewed by the club as a highly promising talent.
Liverpool continue to monitor defensive options, including Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Brentford’s Nathan Collins, amid doubts over Ibrahima Konate’s long-term future. There are also questions around Virgil van Dijk, who turns 35 in July and is out of contract at the end of the 2026/27 season.
Meanwhile, Italian youngster Giovanni Leoni remains sidelined. The 19-year-old, who joined from Parma in the summer of 2025, suffered an ACL injury in his left knee on his debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup last September and is still recovering.