Who is Wellity Lucky? New Liverpool centre-back – first-team plans, style of play & debut

Wellity Lucky has emerged as a regular feature in Liverpool’s first-team squad amid injuries to senior defenders, so who is the 19-year-old and what are Arne Slot‘s plans?

With Joe Gomez joining Giovanni Leoni on the sidelines along with emergency cover Wataru Endo, Lucky has become a staple of Slot’s bench in recent weeks.

That could soon see the teenager brought into the side for his Premier League debut, particularly as Ibrahima Konate‘s fitness appears to be being managed with an absence from sessions at the AXA Training Centre.

So what do we know about Lucky and what can we expect from Liverpool’s No. 92?

Who is Wellity Lucky?

Name: Wellity Lucky Omoruyi
Age: 19 (born: Jan 12, 2006)
Birthplace: Zaragoza, Spain
Nationality: Spanish, English, Nigerian
Position: Centre-back
Height: 6’2″
Shirt number: 92
Liverpool apps: 1 (debut vs. Crystal Palace, Carabao Cup; Oct 29, 2025)
Joined: 2019
Contract expiry: 2028

Lucky was born in Zaragoza, Spain to Nigerian parents and began playing academy football with local sides San Gregorio Arrabal and then Real Zaragoza before his family relocated to England for work.

They moved when he was 11 and by 13 he had joined Liverpool’s youth ranks, progressing quickly through the age groups to captain the U18s in 2023/24 and then become a key starter for the U21s.

This season he has played regularly as partner to Amara Nallo at centre-back, with Rob Page’s chosen pairing forcing the similarly impressive Carter Pinnington to take up a utility role.

Born in 2006, Lucky is also still eligible for the U19s in the UEFA Youth League and played every minute of the 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid and wins over Galatasaray and PSV Eindhoven, the latter while wearing the armband.

Already involved with the first team over pre-season however – including an outing against Athletic Club – he was brought into the heavily rotated squad to debut against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup in October.

Now, with absences to a number of senior players he has trained week in, week out with Slot’s squad and made the bench against Inter Milan, Brighton and Tottenham.

Lucky signed a new three-year contract with Liverpool in July and while a loan move was expected in January that is now unlikely.

What is Wellity Lucky’s style of play?

Lucky is a physical, front-footed defender who has developed his game at a rapid rate this season – particularly in his use of the ball.

Per FotMob, centre-back partner Nallo (67.1) is the only Liverpool player to average more successful passes per 90 minutes than Lucky (56.5) in the U21s league this season, though the latter has a higher completion rate of 89 percent.

Standing at 6’2″, he is also dominant in aerial duels and possesses the recovery pace required to operate in a high line.

Lucky (719) is second only to midfielder Michael Laffey (772) when it comes to minutes played for Page’s Liverpool squad in the U21s league this season.

When will Wellity Lucky make his Liverpool debut?

While Lucky has already made his debut for Liverpool’s first team in the Carabao Cup loss to Crystal Palace, a first appearance in the Premier League may not be far off.

With Gomez, Endo and Leoni sidelined, Ryan Gravenberch required in his regular role as No. 6 and doubts over Konate’s fitness, he could even come into starting contention alongside Virgil van Dijk.

Slot does, of course, still have Andy Robertson available as a potential partner to the Liverpool captain, but Lucky’s ability to play as a right-sided centre-back could work in his favour.