Inside Liverpool's increasing global investment in youth

Liverpool may have made three signings worth more than £100m each over the past two summers in Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola, but internally there is a realisation that after a significant amount of young talent was sold last summer, the club need to replenish that talent pool.

Since 2020, Liverpool have made more than £230m from selling players who have represented them at youth level and that has been a major part of owner Fenway Sports Group's self-sustaining business model, with the funds reinvested into the club.

Since Brexit, there is a 'premium' on young English players and it is why Liverpool's global talent department, led by Matt Newberry since the winter of 2024, now have a major role to play.

Fifa rules state that international transfers of players are only permitted if the player is over 18 and, since Brexit, Premier League clubs are no longer permitted to sign players under 18 from European countries.

Newberry's team is responsible for deciding which young talents from overseas should be targeted for a move. Using their wealth of contacts across the world, including dedicated regional scouts, Liverpool are becoming increasingly aggressive in the space.

It helps that new sporting director Julian Ward is well known for his global network.

"Any player we sign, the first intention is that we want them to play in the first team and there's a belief that there's a chance for everyone that signs here," Alex Inglethorpe, Liverpool Academy director told BBC Sport.

"That really is no different since the impact of Brexit on the English market, which is quite significant. There's now a premium on young English players. Time will tell if that premium is worthwhile but it's definitely a change.

"So it's fairly natural for a club like Liverpool to look within Merseyside in the first instance then broaden that out - national recruitment happens at 14 and after that you look globally, which is what we've done."

Ndiaye's 'incredible story' from Senegal to Anfield

Mor Talla Ndiaye's journey began in the Senegalese village of Sandiara where he played football in the streets.

He progressed through the ranks playing for Bousports Academy in the town of Thiadiaye before joining Amitie Football Club in the city of Thies.

Come January this year, Liverpool fended off interest from other European clubs and signed the 18-year-old for about £1m plus add-ons.

"You have access to certain talent based on points accrued from playing homegrown players. We had a couple of ESC (elite significant contribution) spots to explore the wider market and that's something which, even prior to Brexit, was a fairly normal thing," Inglethorpe adds.

Ndiaye is a left-footed centre-half who played for Liverpool in pre-season under Andoni Iraola and was an unused substitute in three games in the second half of last season under Arne Slot.

"He's an incredible story, isn't he? From where he's come from to where he is - and he's such a humble kid. He's an unbelievable lad to work with," Rob Page, Liverpool's U21 boss, told BBC Sport.

"There's exciting times ahead but he's got a lot of work to do. He's nowhere near the finished article but he's on the right path. His attitude is spot on and he's at the club that will definitely help him develop."

At Liverpool, there is an optimism regarding Ndiaye and a genuine belief that if he makes it to the top, it could be one of the great football stories.

Liverpool opened discussions with his academy and his agency, Sport Cover, after scouts spotted his performances at the U17 World Cup in Qatar last winter and several video calls were arranged before the club's representatives travelled to Senegal.

Once there, they visited where Ndiaye trained, as well as meeting the people that supported his development before presenting their vision to him directly.

A round-table meeting was organised with his family to help understand his environment, the story and the context in which he grew up.

Ultimately, Ndiaye chose Liverpool because they offered the clearest pathway and their approach in getting to know him stood out.

Ndukwe, Martinez, Brughmans and others to watch

Ndiaye isn't the only player to have been identified and recruited by Liverpool's global talent team.

After the U17 World Cup, Liverpool also made a £2.6m move for another centre-half, Ifeanyi Ndukwe.

Ndukwe was impressive in pre-season and the 18-year-old Austrian has gone on loan to Levante in La Liga as he looks to obtain a UK work permit.