Liverpool transfer news: Who is Samuel Martinez, the ‘Colombian Kaka’ tracked by the Reds?

Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Colombian wonderkid Samuel Martinez from Atletico Nacional, beating Borussia Dortmund to the signature of one of South America's most exciting young talents.

A fee of around £740,000 has been agreed, with Martinez set to sign a five-year contract when he turns 18 in April 2027. He will remain at Atletico Nacional until he reaches the required age, with the Colombian club retaining a percentage of any future sale.

German journalist Patrick Berger confirmed Dortmund's disappointment at missing out on the teenager, describing it as a “transfer setback” for the Bundesliga club. Barcelona were also understood to be interested before Liverpool moved decisively to secure the deal.

Who is Samuel Martinez?

Born in Tulua, Colombia, on April 5 2009, the 17-year-old attacking midfielder shot to prominence by anchoring the Colombia Under-17 side to the South American U-17 Championship title earlier this year, wearing the iconic number 10 shirt and registering multiple assists throughout the tournament, including in both the semi-final and final.

Colombian starlet Samuel Martínez (17) has signed a 5 year deal with Liverpool according to reports.

Take a look at this gem 💎 ✨ pic.twitter.com/KRY4gn9jBB

— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) May 23, 2026

Although Martinez has yet to make his senior debut for Atletico Nacional, his dribbling ability, tactical intelligence, technical quality and long-range shooting have already attracted widespread attention from European scouts.

Standing over six feet tall and deploying a gracious, elegant style of play, early comparisons to former Ballon d'Or winner Kaka have been widely made. The Athletic described him as a “modern number 10” with strong physical endurance and a tendency to play forward rather than sideways when recovering the ball — a trait that drew particular praise during the South American Championship.

Why Liverpool moved quickly

The deal forms part of a broader Liverpool strategy of investing in younger profiles. The Reds have identified a need to restock their academy after feeling that a strong generation of home-grown talent had run its natural course, with the club also recently signing Senegalese centre-back Mor Talla Ndiaye from Amitie FC.

Martinez's agent Daniel Neumüller confirmed that the goal was always to find a club with a concrete youth development project. “The plan for him is to go to a club that has a concrete project for young players,” he said. “There are several clubs interested, mainly from the Premier League. It doesn't have to be a big club, but one that guarantees Samuel will have the right development.”

Liverpool — with their track record of developing academy talent — clearly made the most compelling case.