Liverpool join race for 16-year-old midfield wonderkid

Q: Who is Ifeanyi Ndukwe and why is Liverpool interested in him?

Ifeanyi Ndukwe is a 16-year-old midfield prospect that Liverpool is targeting as part of their strategy to sign top young talents.

Q: What other young players has Liverpool signed recently?

Liverpool has recently signed Mor Talla Ndiaye and is planning to sign Jeremy Jacquet along with Ndukwe.

Q: How has Liverpool's academy contributed to their first team?

Liverpool's academy has successfully developed players like Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni, who have progressed to the first team.

Liverpool join race for 16-year-old midfield wonderkid

Liverpool has become a fine finishing school for the best young talents around.

We’ve seen Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni in recent seasons for example follow the well-worn path from the academy sides to the first team.

And the Reds are now also competing for the best young players on the European and global stage. Plans are in place to sign Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Jeremy Jacquet in summer while Mor Talla Ndiaye came on board in January.

But Richard Hughes isn’t planning to stop there - with the Premier League champions now firmly in the race to sign one of the hottest prospects in the game.

Kennet Eichhorn on Liverpool's list

Kennet Eichhorn has made the breakthrough to Hertha Berlin’s first team at the age of only 16 - with a queue forming for his signature.

The Premier League’s elite will be right there for the young German’s signature according to a new report in TEAMtalk. While Newcastle are currently foremost among English clubs Liverpool are named as suitors as they plot a way forward in the midfield.

“The 16-year-old midfield sensation, currently with Hertha Berlin, is already attracting widespread attention after breaking into the German club’s first-team setup despite his young age,” the report reads.

“Interest in Eichhorn is intense, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool all tracking his development closely.

“Newcastle have made significant progress behind the scenes and are among the clubs pushing hardest to secure his signature.”

Eichhorn wouldn’t be entitled to move overseas until he turns 18 in 2027 and that delay could hand an advantage to Bundesliga sides.

“German giants Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also firmly in the mix and currently hold a key advantage. Regulations mean Eichhorn cannot move to England until he turns 18 in 2027, opening the door for clubs in Germany to act sooner,” the report reads.

Kennet Eichhorn: Situation summary

Kennet Eichhorn is a 2009‑born German defensive midfielder who has broken into Hertha BSC’s first team in the 2. Bundesliga, becoming one of the most talked‑about teenagers in Germany.

At 1.86m, he couples a lean frame with impressive ground coverage, already trusted at the base of midfield despite his age.

On the pitch he profiles as a classic holding midfielder with modern pressing intensity: he screens the back line, steps out aggressively to contest duels and shows good anticipation to jump passing lanes.

His passing is generally simple and vertical rather than showy, focused on progressing the ball into the feet of Hertha’s more creative options, but he is comfortable receiving under pressure and playing first‑time layoffs.

A Hertha academy product, Eichhorn has moved quickly from youth standout to regular senior squad member, with coaches highlighting his mentality and tactical discipline as key strengths.

He has already drawn attention for his combative edge, picking up several bookings as he learns to calibrate his timing in challenges.

Contract‑wise, Eichhorn is tied to Hertha on a first professional deal, and the club see him as a flagship talent to build around rather than a short‑term sale.