Liverpool might have just found an answer to one of their biggest squad problems — and he was already at the club.
Isaac Mabaya has been promoted to Liverpool’s first-team squad and included in the club’s 25-man Premier League squad for the 2026/27 season.
And with Liverpool failing to sign another specialist right-back before the transfer window closed, it immediately raises an interesting question:
Is Isaac Mabaya about to become Liverpool’s new right-back?
I’m certainly not saying he’s ready to walk straight into the team every week.
But this is a development worth watching.
Liverpool needed another right-back
This has been one of my biggest frustrations with Liverpool’s transfer window.
Conor Bradley remains unavailable, while Jeremie Frimpong hasn’t exactly convinced everyone during the opening games of the season.
Liverpool looked vulnerable in that position during the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.
The club were linked with several possible solutions during the summer, but ultimately no specialist right-back arrived.
Instead, Andoni Iraola has had to look at versatility.
Dominik Szoboszlai can play there.
Joe Gomez can cover the position when fit.
Ronald Araújo can also provide defensive versatility.
And now there’s another option.
Isaac Mabaya.
Who is Isaac Mabaya?
Mabaya has been with Liverpool since he was six years old.
The club’s academy profile describes him as a player capable of operating at right-back or in midfield, and he made his senior Liverpool debut against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup in February 2025.
His development hasn’t been completely straightforward.
Injuries have interrupted his progress, including a period that limited his playing time during the 2022/23 campaign.
He subsequently spent last season on loan at Wigan Athletic before returning to Liverpool.
Now he’s back.
And he’s back in the first-team picture.
He’s already fit and playing
This is one of the most encouraging parts of the story.
Mabaya has been playing regularly for Liverpool’s Under-21s and started both of their opening games of the season, according to This Is Anfield.
That means he’s not simply being promoted because Liverpool have run out of options.
He’s actually getting minutes.
He’s getting match fitness.
And he’s putting himself in a position where Iraola can take a closer look.
That’s important.
Could Iraola trust him?
This is where things become really interesting.
Iraola has already spoken about the importance of versatility within his squad.
With Bradley injured, the manager has previously explained that he values Szoboszlai’s ability to operate at right-back and sees versatility as something that can help Liverpool deal with injuries.
Mabaya offers another form of that versatility.
He can play right-back.
He can play in midfield.
And unlike moving one of Liverpool’s established midfielders into defence, using Mabaya at right-back wouldn’t take Szoboszlai away from midfield.
That could be a significant advantage.
Liverpool might have nothing to lose
I’m not suggesting Mabaya should suddenly become Liverpool’s first-choice right-back.
That would be unfair on the player.
But if Frimpong continues to struggle and Bradley isn’t ready, why shouldn’t Mabaya get an opportunity?
He’s already been around the first team.
He’s already made his senior debut.
And he’s now officially part of Liverpool’s Premier League squad.
Sometimes circumstances create opportunities that nobody expected.
This could be one of those moments.
Imagine the opportunity
Imagine you’re Isaac Mabaya.
You’ve come through Liverpool’s academy.
You’ve had injuries interrupt your progress.
You’ve gone out on loan.
You’ve come back.
And suddenly Liverpool have a problem at right-back.
The door is open.
That doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to walk through it.
But it’s there.
Now it’s about whether Mabaya can convince Iraola that he’s ready.
Is this Liverpool’s answer until Bradley returns?
That’s probably the more realistic question.
Liverpool don’t necessarily need Mabaya to become their long-term right-back overnight.
They may simply need somebody who can provide reliable cover until Bradley returns.
If Mabaya can do that, his promotion could become extremely important.
And if he performs well enough, perhaps he gives Iraola a genuine selection headache.
That’s exactly what you want from an academy player.
Liverpool’s academy keeps producing options
This is another reason why I’m excited about what’s happening at Liverpool.
The club have invested heavily in the first team this summer, but the academy remains hugely important.
Rio Ngumoha is pushing towards senior football.
Lewis Koumas has been promoted.
Young players such as Trey Nyoni continue to develop.
And now Mabaya is back in the senior squad.
Not every academy player will make it.
That’s football.
But Liverpool need to keep giving the best ones opportunities.
And Mabaya now has one.
Don’t expect miracles
I think it’s important that supporters don’t put too much pressure on him.
Mabaya has made only a small number of senior appearances.
He isn’t Trent Alexander-Arnold.
He doesn’t need to be.
He doesn’t need to replace anybody.
He simply needs to show Iraola what he can do.
Give him an opportunity.
See how he handles Premier League football.
Then make a decision.
That’s how young players should be developed.
Could this be a surprise story of the season?
That’s what makes this so interesting.
At the start of the summer, nobody would have expected Isaac Mabaya to be one of the names discussed when talking about Liverpool’s right-back options.
But circumstances have changed.
Bradley is injured.
Liverpool didn’t sign another specialist right-back.
Frimpong has questions to answer.
And Mabaya is now in the Premier League squad.
Liverpool’s official squad list confirms his inclusion among the club’s homegrown players for the season.
The opportunity is there.
Is Isaac Mabaya Liverpool’s new right-back?
Maybe.
I’m certainly not ready to declare that he’s Liverpool’s long-term solution.
But I am ready to say that this is a player Liverpool supporters should be watching.
He’s been at the club since he was six.
He’s already made his senior debut.
He’s back playing regularly.
He’s versatile.
And now he’s officially part of Iraola’s Premier League squad.
If Liverpool’s right-back problems continue, Mabaya could get his chance sooner than anybody expected.
And who knows?
Sometimes football gives you an answer you weren’t expecting.
Liverpool spent the summer looking for another right-back.
Maybe the next one was already at Kirkby.
Remember the name: Isaac Mabaya.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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