Liverpool’s first pre-season under new manager Andoni Iraola faces several hurdles, but the rise of 18-year-old defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe offers a silver lining. With the team’s central defense lacking depth, Austrian teenager Ndukwe has received more playing time than anticipated.

So far, Ndukwe has participated in two full 90-minute matches and one 80-minute outing. He earned a starting position next to captain Virgil van Dijk in a recent friendly against Monaco at Anfield.

During the match, the towering 6ft 6in (1.98m) defender impressed the crowd with a clever backheel that confused Monaco’s Mika Biereth, alongside demonstrating his defensive prowess by winning key duels.

With the recent exit of France international Ibrahima Konate, it remains unclear who will play alongside Van Dijk in Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League opener against Newcastle. However, Ndukwe will not be that player.

Post-Brexit regulations prevent him from competing in a competitive game for Liverpool until 2026 due to not meeting the points needed for a UK work permit. As a result, he is limited to friendly matches for the time being.

The shift in regulations following Brexit complicates the process for clubs, especially when bringing in players who have yet to establish themselves. Currently, Ndukwe does not have sufficient points to secure a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) needed for a work visa.

There exists a potential pathway for him through an Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) spot, which is designated for foreign players not qualifying for a standard GBE. Premier League and Championship teams can allocate up to four ESC slots based on the percentage of playing time awarded to their England Qualified Players (EQP) in the prior season.

However, these slots are not automatically granted. A club must reach a threshold of 35% of minutes assigned to EQPs to qualify for four ESC players. Falling below this threshold reduces their availability. Due to Liverpool’s metrics from last season, the club qualifies for only one ESC place, already filled by Senegalese 18-year-old Mor Talla Ndiaye.

Liverpool’s first pre-season under new boss Andoni Iraola has not been without its challenges – but one reason for optimism is the emergence of 18-year-old defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe.

Iraola’s side are short of numbers in central defence, so Austrian teenager Ndukwe has been handed more minutes than even he might have expected.

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With two lots of 90 minutes and an 80-minute display already under his belt, Ndukwe was handed a start alongside captain Virgil van Dijk against Monaco at Anfield on Sunday.

And it didn’t take long for the imposing 6ft 6in (1.98m) youngster to draw gasps from the crowd after a neat backheel to wrong-foot Monaco’s Mika Biereth, before winning important defensive duels.

After the departure of France international Ibrahima Konate, it remains unclear who will partner Van Dijk in Liverpool’s opening Premier League game against Newcastle.

But it won’t be Ndukwe.

Post-Brexit rules mean he is not allowed to play for Liverpool in a competitive game in 2026 because he didn’t reach the points target required to qualify for a UK work permit – meaning he can only play in friendly matches.

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Since Brexit, and with the UK no longer part of the European Union, clubs now have to navigate a more complex work permit system to ensure players – especially those who are yet to establish themselves at the top level – are able to move to England.

Austria youth international Ndukwe doesn’t currently have enough points to obtain a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) to obtain a work visa.

There is another route into the squad, through taking up an Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) slot, which is awarded to foreign players who do not qualify for the standard GBE.

Premier League and Championship clubs have up to four ESC places available, based on the percentage of minutes clubs gave to their England Qualified Players (EQP) in the previous campaign.

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But clubs are not entitled to all four spots automatically.

The magic number is 35% of minutes, which means clubs can use four ESC players. Dropping below that begins to reduce the number of ESC slots available.

Liverpool’s percentage last season means they only get one ESC place, which has already been taken by Senegalese 18-year-old Mor Talla Ndiaye.

Read more here on the next steps for Ndukwe