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.
The list doesn’t stop there. Samuel Martinez, the 17-year-old Colombian midfielder, will join next summer after having “30 offers from around the world, external“, according to his father.
It doesn’t always work. Arsenal beat Liverpool to the signing of Andria Bartishvili from Georgia last month and the 17-year-old will join the Gunners next summer when he is 18.
But the moves for Martinez and Ndiaye showcase Liverpool’s willingness to spread beyond Europe and into areas they may not have explored before. Given the inevitability of other top clubs circling emerging talent, the idea of selling the pathway that Liverpool offers is imperative.
Since arriving, Ndiaye has settled in with a host family – which is normal when players aren’t from the area – that are used to working with Liverpool.
“Players come from varying parts of the world and, when someone comes in and doesn’t speak much English at the start, you have to help with that and help understand culturally the differences in food, the weather and even the pitches you play on,” Inglethorpe said.
“There’s a lot of understanding in terms of the level of support that’s needed and the most important thing you can give a young player is the time.
“I’m delighted that Mor made such a strong impression and he’s done as well as he has, but we hope that he’s going to get better and better as he continues to adapt.”
This summer, Liverpool also confirmed moves for Lucca Brughmans, the 18-year-old Belgian goalkeeper, and Djylian N’Guessan, the 18-year-old French forward, with both set to join the club permanently in 2027.
In the modern game, most talents are known and there aren’t many hidden gems anymore, but Liverpool believe that by digging deeper and wider they can get ahead of the curve, using their global network and their reputation as a club that will help players develop.
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