Liverpool have secured the transfer of Colombian attacking midfielder Samuel Martinez from Atletico Nacional , with Sky Sport Germany’s Florian Plettenberg confirming the deal has now been completed, making the 17-year-old the Reds’ first signing of the summer.
The next step for the Colombian talent is to secure a work visa before traveling to England for medical tests, where he will then sign a five-year contract with the Anfield club.
The transfer fee is reported to be around $1 million, while Atletico Nacional has also negotiated a percentage of the future sale to protect the club’s interests.
Liverpool managed to beat off competition from Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona for his signature.
However, due to FIFA rules prohibiting international transfers of players under the age of 18, Martinez will continue to play for Atletico Nacional until 2027, when he will turn 18.
Liverpool’s plan is for him to join the first-team’s training camp in the summer of that year, while his first season is expected to be split between the U21 team and the U19 team in the UEFA Youth League.
Martinez excelled with Colombia at the South American U17 Championship, where he started five of the team’s six matches and contributed three assists, including in the semi-finals and final, helping Colombia win the trophy.
Spanish daily Marca has described him as “a modern midfielder with box-to-box skills, who covers both phases of the game, combining the refined technique of Latin American football with the physical intensity that modern football demands.”
