Nigerian-born defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe will play this new season on loan at Levante of Spain, after UK Work Permit restrictions blocked clearance papers that would have allowed him to play in the English Premier League.
Sports247 gathered that the Spanish side have already added Ndukwe’s name to their roster for the season, following his arrival from Liverpool, which he joined from Austria Wien this summer, before which both clubs had agreed to a deal for him in January.
Ndukwe went on to twinkle bright in Liverpool’s pre-season games, but strict rules of UK’s Home Office prevented him from getting a work permit, thereby making him ineligible to play in England and The Reds had to ship him out before the beginning of the new campaign this weekend.
A report by One Football noted, “The 18-year-old was outstanding in pre-season, particularly in the 3-2 defeat to AS Monaco at Anfield. He looked composed alongside Virgil van Dijk.
“Liverpool’s director of global talent, Matt Newberry identified Ndukwe as a player who could eventually break into the first team. The Austrian youngster is an imposing centre-back with recovery pace and outstanding tackling skills, while he is also comfortable with the ball at his feet.
“However, Ndukwe is ineligible to play for Liverpool this season because he does not have a work permit. Liverpool believe Levante offers a good environment for young players to develop, which played a key role in their decision to allow Ndukwe to join them.
“Ndukwe will have the opportunity to gain more first-team experience at Levante. He could be part of Liverpool’s senior side in the 2027/28 season if he impresses with the La Liga outfit.”
Sports247 reports further that the move to Levante provides another opening for Ndukwe, who was born in Vienna, Austria, to a Nigerian father and Russian mother, who backed his football career, which he started at Brigittenau before joining the academy of Wien in 2016.
He captained Austria Wien at under-16 level, prior to being a regular starter with the second team in the 2024/2025 season, when they secured promotion to the 2. Liga, following which he signed a three-year professional contract with the club’s senior squad in June 2025.
On January 26th, 2026, Ndukwe officially joined Liverpool in a deal that was valued at an initial £2.6m (€3m), with additional performance-related add-ons potentially increasing the total fee, which was finalised on March 3rd, once he became eligible upon turning 18.
