Arne Slot Promises 'Unbelievable' Center-Back Will Play for Liverpool in 2026

Liverpool FC manager Arne Slot has made a bold promise about a highly anticipated center-back signing, declaring the player will be "unbelievable" and ready to feature prominently for the Reds by 2026. This comes amid the club's ongoing defensive challenges in the 2025/26 season, despite their Premier League title win last year.[2][3]

Liverpool's defense, once a cornerstone of their success with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté shining alongside full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, has shown vulnerabilities this campaign. Alexander-Arnold's summer move to Real Madrid prompted reinforcements like Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, Josko Gvardiol from Bournemouth (noting the search result's likely typo as Josko Kerz), and young talent Giovanni Leoni. Yet injuries to Leoni and Joe Gomez, plus inconsistent form from Van Dijk and Konaté, have left Slot's side exposed.[2][3]

A failed late-summer bid for Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi exacerbated the issue, and the sale of promising homegrown defender Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for £30m—complete with a buyback clause—has been criticized as prioritizing profit over squad depth. Tyler Morton also departed in a £39m double deal, leaving gaps that academy prospects like Rio Ngumoha are urged to fill.[3]

The 'unbelievable' center-back in question is Club Brugge's Joel Ordóñez, with Liverpool closing in on a £43m deal (£35m initial fee plus add-ons). Chelsea has reportedly pulled out, paving the way for the Ecuadorian star. Slot eyes this January move to shore up a "shaky" backline as the champions sit fourth, six points off third-placed Aston Villa after a goalless draw with Leeds.[2]

Slot remains optimistic, backing summer signings like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Hugo Ekitike to gel over time. "The longer players play together, the bigger chance you have of winning something," he noted recently. With upcoming fixtures against Fulham and Arsenal, Ordóñez's arrival could be transformative, fulfilling Slot's 2026 vision.[1][2]

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