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Liverpool will let Ifeanyi Ndukwe spend the rest of the season on loan at Levante - although the Reds are also reportedly keeping the door open to him returning to Anfield in January.
The 18-year-old is currently on loan in Spain, having made the move to Levante towards the end of the summer transfer window. Having landed at Liverpool after a deal was agreed with his previous club Austria Wien earlier in the year, Ndukwe impressed during pre-season, but was unable to play any part for the Reds once the 2026/27 campaign began.
Work permit issues meant that the teenager’s only option was to head out on loan. He has now reached the threshold to obtain a permit, opening the door for him to return to Anfield in the New Year.
Liverpool included the option to recall the defender from his loan in January, with reports in his native Austria claiming that the Reds were due for a meeting with Ndukwe’s agents to discuss a potential return to Anfield.
According to Spanish journalist Nacho Sanchis, who covers Levante, both Liverpool and his current side have now agreed that Ndukwe will see out the rest of the season on loan, with the Reds only planning to recall him in January if they suffer any more defensive injuries before the turn of the year.
Liverpool currently has Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong absent, with the latter two injuries meaning Ronald Araujo and Joe Gomez will have to cover at right-back. The injury situation is expected to ease over the next month or so though, with Bradley on course to make a return to training next month.
Another journalist, Eric Martin Gasulla, has indicated that should Liverpool cut Ndukwe’s loan short, it would have to compensate Levante. In any case, Andoni Iraola is said to want the player to finish the season in Spain.
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Ndukwe is beginning to make a name for himself in Spain, having started Levante’s last three La Liga encounters, with his promotion seeing an upturn in form for Luis Castro’s side.
With Ndukwe in the starting XI, Levante has drawn two and won one, with the teenager also scoring in a 3-3 draw with Sevilla. His performances have led to positive reviews from the Spanish media, with one outlet even going as far as to suggest he could become "one of the world’s top center-backs".
Ndukwe could be back in action on Sunday when Levante travels to Real Sociedad. The visitors will be aiming to move into the top half of the table, having collected 10 points from their nine games so far.