Following Liverpool’s acquisition of two new academy centre-backs, under-18s coach Simon Wiles has claimed the Reds’ defensive signings will “raise the level” at the club.
Academy defensive refresh: A quick look
• Raising the bar: Coach Simon Wiles believes the signings of Mor Talla Ndiaye and Noah Adekoya will challenge and improve the current academy crop.
• Domino effect: The new arrivals could allow 19-year-old Amara Nallo to secure a loan move, while Rhys Williams may depart permanently.
• Summer target: Liverpool are also in talks to sign 6’5″ defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe from Austria Vienna for a reported £2.6 million once he turns 18 this summer.
Liverpool may not have signed any first team players yet in January, but they have been acquiring talent at youth level – and in a position that bolstering.
The Reds have signed centre-backs Mor Talla Ndiaye and Noah Adekoya from Amitie in the Senegalese second division and Burnley, respectively.
The pair are expected to start off in the under-21s squad, with both the under-18s and under-21s short of defenders.
Following a 4-2 comeback win against Stoke on Saturday, under-18s coach Simon Wiles told The Redmen TV: “I think it’s exciting. I think what it does is it raises the level of the lads that we’ve got in the building as well.
“So if the recruitment side have identified players that they want to bring into the academy and see a real progression for them, then for our lads that we’re working with day to day, this is the level that we need to get you to.
“I think when you’re training with better and playing with better, it’s only going to improve your game.
“And I think that side of it is really exciting because everything should enhance different challenges through training sessions, and obviously the different challenges that you bring to big fixtures.”
At academy level, Wellity Lucky is deemed the highest-rated centre-half, with Amara Nallo and the versatile Carter Pinnington also featuring for Rob Page’s under-21s.
Nallo could spend the second half of the campaign on loan, though, as This Is Anfield understands the arrival of Ndiaye and Adekoya will allow the 19-year-old to leave.
Rhys Williams, who is now nearly 25 years old, could depart too, permanently.
Further down the academy, Wiles has struggled with injuries in defensive positions for the under-18s.
By the end of Saturday’s win over Stoke, the Reds had two midfielders at full-back and a more natural right-back, DJ Esdaille, in the middle alongside Lucas Clarke who signed from Man City a year ago.
In an effort to combat the shortage, Liverpool are also in talks to bring in Austria Vienna centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe, once he has turned 18 in the summer.
Talla Ndiaye & Ifeanyi Ndukwe: Profiling Liverpool’s New Teenage Centre-Back Targets
| Details | Talla Ndiaye | Ifeanyi Ndukwe |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 18 (Born Jan 6, 2008) | 17 (Born Mar 3, 2008) |
| Birthplace | Senegal | Austria |
| Nationality | Senegalese | Austrian, Russian, Nigerian |
| Current Club | Amitie FC | Austria Vienna |
| Position | Centre-Back (Left) | Centre-Back (Right) |
| Height | 188cm (6’2″) | 198cm (6’5″) |
| Shirt Number | N/A | 66 |
| Transfer Fee | Undisclosed | €3m (£2.6m) |
* Data verified as of Jan 6, 2026. Both players featured in the recent U17 World Cup.
The 6’5″ right-footer will cost the Reds £2.6 million, according to Austrian outlet Laola1.
“To know that you’ve got the backing of the hierarchy that can go and bring in these players is a really exciting factor for the club,” Wiles added.
“I’m looking forward to seeing them when they arrive and I’m looking forward to seeing the response that we get from our lads.
“Most importantly, we still want to try and get as many of those lads to where they want to get to as well, so we’ll keep working hard with them, us as a staff, and yeah, let’s keep progressing.”
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