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Liverpool FC has locked down one of Scotland’s most promising young defenders. Dara Jikiemi, the 16-year-old captain of Scotland’s U16 squad, is leaving Celtic for Anfield on a five-year contract starting July 1, 2026.
The deal makes Jikiemi Liverpool’s fourth academy signing of 2026, a clear signal that the club is building its defensive depth from the ground up rather than relying solely on the transfer market.
What happened
Jikiemi, born on January 9, 2010, has been turning heads in Scottish youth football for a while now. He captained both Scotland’s U15 and U16 sides, which is the kind of leadership pedigree that gets Premier League scouts booking flights to Glasgow.
Interest from English clubs reportedly began surfacing in late 2025. Nottingham Forest and Newcastle were among the suitors, but Jikiemi ultimately chose Liverpool. He also turned down a new long-term contract offer from Celtic.
Celtic won’t receive a traditional transfer fee. Because Jikiemi is a youth player moving between clubs, the deal triggers training compensation rather than a negotiated price tag.
Liverpool agreed to terms with Jikiemi back in May 2026, and the move becomes official when he joins the academy in July.
Liverpool’s academy strategy
This signing doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Liverpool has been methodically assembling young defensive talent, and Jikiemi is the fourth piece of that puzzle in 2026 alone.
The club’s academy has a well-documented track record of producing first-team contributors. Trent Alexander-Arnold came through the same system. So did Curtis Jones.
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