Ifeanyi Ndukwe has already grabbed the headlines after his eventual transfer to Liverpool has been confirmed , and there are plenty of reasons for it. Despite just being 17 years old, Ndukwe already boasts of a massive height of 1.98 m ( 6 ft 5 in ). Ndukwe does not even have his Wikipedia at this moment, but have no worries, as we are here with all the important information you need regarding him and why he is compared to Virgil Van Dijk.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe's transfer to Liverpool and Virgil Van Dijk comparison
Liverpool will pay around €3 million to Ifeanyi Ndukwe's club Austria Vienna. However, he'll only join Liverpool's U21s side in July. The fee could later rise as well through various add-ons, and there is also a belief that Austria Vienna will include a sell-on clause. Ifeanyi Ndukwe has completed his medical with the club as well, and only final details of his move are to be completed.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe currently plays as right-sided centre-back, and already possesses great pace despite being ridiculously tall. He's a front-footed defender who looks to break down the opposite attacks before it develops. Another major highlight of the player is his strong passing range, , which includes his ability to provide pinpoint long balls with his natural right foot. This has led to Ifeanyi Ndukwe being compared to Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk, who possesses a similar ability. However, it'll probably take a decade at least from now for Ifeanyi Ndukwe to be compared with Van Dijk in regards to being a world-class player at centre back.
The 17 year old is also taller than other big players from Liverpool's youth academy such as Wellity Lucky and Amara Nallo.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe Parents and international career
Ifeanyi Ndukwe was born to a Nigerian father and Russian mother. Coming to his international career, he is a regular for Austria's U17s side. In fact, he started seven of their eight games as they reached the final of the U17 World Cup in November, unfortunately losing to Portugal in the end.
What have others said about Ifeanyi Ndukwe?
The following are the words of Austria U17 coach Hermann Stadley on Ifeanyi Ndukwe:
“He has made the biggest leap of all, was promoted from the U18s to the [Austria Vienna U21s], and plays every game there unless he’s in the professional squad.
“He stands out because of his height and hairstyle. He’s very, very advanced for his age.”
He had also received huge praise from Austria Vienna U21s manager Max Uhlig, who stated the following:
“It’s remarkable how clear-headed he already is.
“A lot has happened to him in the last year, it’s all gone very quickly. But I don’t get the feeling that it’s weighing on him or that he thinks he’s some kind of super-great guy.
“He’s always the same, very down-to-earth.”
Conclusion
Ifeanyi Ndukwe looks set to have a bright future ahead. In fact, we could see be a part of Liverpool's first team squad in a few years if his development takes place faster than expected. One of Liverpool's weakest links this season has been their defence, and thus it is important for the club to invest in youngsters like Ifeanyi Ndukwe to make sure that their future defense wouldn't have to suffer. We wish our good luck to Ifeanyi Ndukwe, and hope to see him make it big.
