Exclusive: Liverpool scouts hugely impressed by Red Bull centre-back after U20 World Cup breakout

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Exclusive with Graeme Bailey.Liverpool scouts have been impressed by the performances of Japan captain Rion Ichihara during the ongoing U20 World Cup, Rousing The Kop can exclusively reveal.Centre-back Ichihara has been making a big impression at the tournament, and his displays are understood to have caught the eye of Liverpool talent-spotters.RTK has previously revealed that Reds scouts have travelled to watch the tournament in Chile, with the intention of gathering data on some of the world’s foremost young talents.Having scooped the man of the match award in Japan’s opening two games, Ichihara is understood to have stood out.Liverpool are currently short on options at centre-back after seeing new signing Giovanni Leoni ruled out for the rest of the season.Photo by RAUL BRAVO/AFP via Getty ImagesRion Ichihara set for move to EuropeInterestingly, given the links to former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, Ichihara is currently playing under the Red Bull banner for second division Japanese side RB Omiya Ardija.The Reds have done business with Omiya’s sister clubs Salzburg and Leipzig over recent years, and are understood to have had Ichihara on their radar prior to this month’s tournament.However, the 20-year-old has cemented his reputation as one of Japan’s most promising young players, scoring penalties in each of his country’s opening two matches.READ MORE: Liverpool scouting Club Brugge centre-back Joel Ordonez ahead of January transfer window – EXCLUSIVEIchihara is an imposing figure, and RTK has been told that a move to Europe looks very likely in 2026.A transfer in the January window cannot be ruled out, although Liverpool are far from the only club keeping tabs on his progress. Who is Rion Ichihara?

Centre-back is expected to be a key area of focus for Liverpool in the transfer market during 2026. The Reds could look to sign more than one defender across the January and summer windows.One of those could be a young, ‘project’ defender such as Ichihara, with interest in the Japanese unlikely to affect their pursuit of Marc Guehi, for example.SeasonAppearancesGoalsAssists202318002024314120252411Rion Ichihara career statisticsNevertheless, there are high hopes for Ichihara, who could also end up progressing through the Red Bull system.The defender has already amassed 73 appearances for the RB Omiya Ardija first team, playing 24 times so far as they challenge for promotion to the J League this season.Captain of the U20 team, Ichihara will have his eye on breaking into the senior Japan squad for the World Cup next summer.