Transfer news: Liverpool confirm Samuel Martínez signing from Atlético Nacional

Transfer news: Liverpool have agreed a deal to bring Samuel Martínez to Anfield from Atlético Nacional, and this transfer news broke decisively on 22 May 2026. Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra first reported the agreement, with Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto both independently confirming the deal shortly after. The 17-year-old starred at the South American U-17 Championship, starting five of Colombia’s six games, assisting three times including in both the semi-final and the final, as his country lifted the trophy.

The deal will close for around one million euros, with Atlético Nacional retaining a sell-on percentage of any future sale. Both parties are currently finalising the paperwork, and Martínez will sign a five-year contract once he turns 18. A host of top European clubs, including Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Atlético Madrid and Benfica, all tracked the teenager closely, but Liverpool moved decisively to beat them all.

Transfer news: Why Liverpool won the race?

Michael Edwards and his recruitment team have visibly widened Liverpool’s global scouting network, signing a string of young talents, including Armin Pecsi, Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Sidy Barhama Ndiaye through this model, to make Anfield a hub for elite generational talent.

Martínez, a leggy attacking midfielder with pace and strong dribbling ability, will almost certainly begin with Liverpool’s U18s before progressing through the academy structure. Because he remains underage, Premier League rules prevent him from joining officially until he turns 18, meaning he stays at Atlético Nacional for now.

Transfer news: What does this mean for Arne Slot in summer 2026?

Liverpool go into this summer carrying real pressure. Slot faces the task of rebuilding wide areas following Mohamed Salah’s departure, and the club’s owners, FSG are expected to back him in the market after an underwhelming title defence. Slot himself admitted that Champions League qualification would directly affect what Liverpool could do this summer, with the final Premier League game against Brentford carrying enormous weight as a result.

Signing Martínez is sensible forward planning, but it does not address Slot’s immediate needs. The teenager arrives in 2027 at the earliest, contributing nothing to next season’s squad. At roughly £1m with a sell-on clause, the financial risk is minimal, and if Martínez develops even half as well as his early performances suggest, Liverpool will have secured exceptional value.

Transfer News – Liverpool eye £66m winger in bid to fix Salah void

For Slot, this is a smart low-cost addition to the pipeline, but the real test of this summer window still lies in who Liverpool sign to strengthen the first team right now, particularly on the right flank. Good deal for the club long-term, largely irrelevant to Slot’s short-term problems.