English Premier League giants Liverpool have moved to lock down the future of two highly-rated defenders of Nigerian descent, Emmanuel Airoboma and Wellity Lucky, as the club gears up for the 2025 pre-season. The Reds officially confirmed on Friday via their website that new contract offers have been presented to the young centre-backs, who have shown immense promise within the club’s youth ranks.
Wellity Lucky, born in Zaragoza, Spain to Nigerian parents, has emerged as one of the most exciting defensive prospects in Liverpool’s Academy. His football journey began with local Spanish sides San Gregorio Arrabal and Real Zaragoza before relocating to England with his family. He joined Liverpool’s Academy at the U13 level and signed his first professional contract in April 2023. Now 19, Lucky has grown into a commanding presence in defence, making 17 appearances across the Premier League 2, UEFA Youth League, and EFL Trophy in the just-concluded 2024-2025 season.
Liverpool is offering him a fresh four-year deal, hoping to fend off mounting interest from clubs in Spain, who are keen to lure the young talent back to La Liga. His impressive performances have made him one of the top defensive prospects to watch in Europe, especially given his dual heritage and international eligibility for both Spain and Nigeria.
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Emmanuel Airoboma, another young talent of Nigerian descent, has also been handed a contract extension as Liverpool continues to invest in the next generation of defensive stalwarts. While details of Airoboma’s current contract were not disclosed, insiders say the Reds are eager to see him develop further within the club’s system amid increasing interest from other European sides.
The club’s aggressive youth retention strategy reflects a wider push to secure homegrown and heritage-linked talents before they become targets for rival academies or national teams. With Nigeria’s influence on global football talent growing rapidly, Liverpool’s early move to secure Airoboma and Lucky signals strategic foresight and a commitment to nurturing diverse talent.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian football community has reacted with excitement to the news, with fans calling on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to keep tabs on both players as potential future Super Eagles stars.