After a year of links and rumours, it seems that Liverpool FC have finally signed Celtic’s Dara Jikiemi, a 16-year-old centre-back who has served as captain for the Scotland U15 and U16 teams.
Despite reporting of a 5-year contract, it is important to note that Jikiemi will initially be on scholarship terms at the club, with the player only eligible to sign his first professional contract when he turns 17 in January of 2027.
The young defender arrives having regularly played three years above his age group with Celtic’s U18 team and is expected to join Liverpool’s U18 under Simon Wiles for pre-season, meaning that while promising he’s clearly a few years away from potentially making a first team impact. He is best described as an aggressive, ball-playing centre-back who can also step into defensive midfield in a pinch.
Liverpool have been particularly aggressive in stockpiling centre-back prospects over the past year, and Jikiemi joins the likes of Mor Talla Ndiaye, Noah Adekoya, and Ifeanyi Ndukwe as additions at the position.