
Anfield Index
·19 July 2025
Liverpool Defender Agrees to Sign New Three-Year Contract

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·19 July 2025
Liverpool have taken a quiet but significant step in reinforcing their defensive ranks. While much of the summer’s attention has centred around attacking reinforcements and goalkeeping changes, the centre-back situation remains thin, and action is needed.
According to This is Anfield, “Wellity Lucky has finally agreed terms with the club after being offered a new deal at the end of last season.” The 18-year-old centre-back, who had been in a brief stand-off with the club, has now committed to a three-year contract and will stay at Anfield.
Lucky had received interest from both domestic and European sides and was eligible to leave as a free agent. His decision to remain is seen as a vote of confidence in Liverpool’s long-term vision and his own pathway to the senior squad.
Arne Slot has already had the opportunity to observe Lucky up close. The defender has participated in first-team training under the new manager and impressed club staff with his composure and intelligence on the ball. While Amara Nallo was selected for Liverpool’s pre-season fixture against Preston, This is Anfield highlighted that “Lucky actually produced better performances than him at U21 level last season.”
That comparison has not gone unnoticed. With Jarell Quansah’s departure reducing senior depth at centre-back to just Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate, Lucky’s renewed presence could become increasingly valuable as the season progresses.
Photo: IMAGO
Despite the new deal, Lucky is expected to remain with Liverpool U21s under the guidance of Rob Page, recently appointed as the team’s head coach. Yet the January transfer window may offer him a route into senior football, with several clubs reportedly interested in taking the defender on loan.
A temporary move could mirror the pathway taken by Quansah, who benefitted immensely from his stint at Bristol Rovers before stepping into the first-team environment last season. Liverpool will be hoping for a similar development arc, with Lucky regarded as a serious contender for long-term inclusion in the senior squad.
While Liverpool have focused on rebuilding their goalkeeping unit and reshaping the forward line, central defence remains a concern. With Konate entering the final year of his contract and Gomez continuing to battle fitness issues, reinforcing the position is not optional, it is essential.
Photo: IMAGO
Lucky’s decision to stay does not solve all of Liverpool’s defensive needs, but it ensures one of the club’s most promising academy products is part of the plan. With the right development and a potential loan move, the 18-year-old could emerge as a reliable option in the not-too-distant future.
As This is Anfield put it, “Long-term he’s definitely someone who could be an option for the first team.” For Liverpool, that long-term vision is becoming ever more important.
For Liverpool supporters, news of Wellity Lucky’s contract extension may not generate immediate excitement, but it should. This is a club that thrives on long-term planning and squad evolution, and Lucky’s deal fits that mould.
Jarell Quansah’s rise to first-team prominence showed what a strong loan spell and consistent academy form can deliver. If Lucky follows that path, supporters could soon be watching a composed, left-footed centre-back developed within the club’s own system.
It is also reassuring to see that Liverpool are not letting academy contracts drift. The fact that Lucky had external offers and still chose to stay says a lot about the faith players have in the project under Michael Edwards and Arne Slot.
In a summer where glamour signings have taken the headlines, this contract is a quieter win. But come 2026, it might just look like one of the smartest moves of all.