Bureaucratic visa hurdles have forced Liverpool to send 18-year-old Austrian central defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe on a season-long loan to Spanish club Levante, according to a statement released by the La Liga side.
Ndukwe, born in Vienna in March 2008, initially joined Liverpool from FK Austria Viena in January in a transfer valued at approximately 3 million euros. However, complications regarding visa acquisition prevented the teenager from registering with the English club’s youth academy squads. Facing these regulatory roadblocks, Anfield leadership opted to secure a temporary loan move outside of the United Kingdom.
Levante Wins Race for Austrian Youth International
Despite the registration setback in England, Ndukwe impressed during pre-season training sessions with Liverpool’s senior squad. That strong on-field showing sparked interest from multiple European outfits seeking a temporary transfer, a competitive recruitment window that Levante ultimately won, as confirmed by the club’s official announcement.
The Valencia-based club secured the defender on a straight loan deal without a purchase option. Standing at 1.98 meters tall, Ndukwe brings considerable physical presence to the Spanish side’s backline. He is an established youth international for Austria, having featured prominently in the under-17 setup, including a run to the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar last year.
