Liverpool have finalized an agreement to sign teenage forward Djylian N’Guessan from French side AS Saint-Étienne. The 18-year-old centre-forward will officially complete his permanent transfer to Anfield during the upcoming January transfer window. Rather than integrating immediately into the squad, N’Guessan will spend the remainder of the 2026–27 campaign on loan at Ligue 1 club Stade Brestois 29 to gain further high-level experience and continue his growth in French football.
Born in Saint-Nazaire in 2008, N’Guessan emerged as one of the most promising young talents in France after progressing through the Saint-Étienne academy. The right-footed striker made his senior debut in January 2025 when he came on as a substitute against Stade de Reims in Ligue 1, becoming the third-youngest player in Saint-Étienne history to wear the club’s colors. He went on to make 13 senior appearances and score one goal for the French club before securing his move to Merseyside.
N’Guessan’s profile has been bolstered by a successful international trajectory across France’s youth setups. Having earned his first international cap for the French Under-16s in 2023, he stood out at the Under-17 European Championship, where he scored four goals and earned a spot in the official Team of the Tournament. Since then, he has advanced to the French Under-20 national team, making seven appearances, including seven matches at the 2025 Under-20 World Cup.
The addition of N’Guessan complements a significant reshaping of Liverpool’s frontline. The club completed a major move by signing 23-year-old French international winger Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal finalized for £123 million ($166 million), alongside an additional £4.3 million (€5 million) solidarity payment covering Lyon’s prior sell-on fee. Barcola, who penned a five-year contract and took the No. 29 shirt, was identified as a primary replacement for Mohamed Salah following the Egyptian’s departure at the end of last season.
Liverpool’s transfer period also included securing Spanish winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna. Speaking on his move to the Premier League, Barcola expressed immense pride in joining Liverpool, noting that playing twice at Anfield as an opponent made him appreciate the extraordinary backing of the supporters. With Barcola in place and N’Guessan set to complete his loan at Brest before joining permanently in January, Liverpool are strategically constructing their forward line for both the immediate present and the long-term future.
