Rio Ngumoha, 17, made the decision to leave Chelsea last year despite their attempts to retain him with significant contract offers. It was reportedly driven by his belief that Liverpool offered a clearer pathway to first-team football. It is said that the move sparked tension between the two clubs, with Chelsea reportedly banning Liverpool scouts from their Cobham training ground. A tribunal is still pending to determine the compensation fee Liverpool will pay Chelsea for the then-15-year-old’s transfer, with estimates ranging from a six-figure sum to as high as £2 million.
Amid that, Rio Ngumoha signed his first professional contract with the Premier League champions on September 25, 2025. The announcement, made by the club, marks a significant
milestone in the rapid rise of the England youth international, who has already left an indelible mark on Anfield since joining from Chelsea’s academy in September 2024. While Liverpool have not disclosed the length of Ngumoha’s new deal, reports indicate it is a three-year contract, the maximum allowed for a player of his age under Football Association (FA) regulations, tying him to the club until 2028.
Rio Ngumoha scored a goal just two minutes into a pre-season match against Athletic Club in August 2025
Rio Ngumoha’s integration into Liverpool’s setup under manager Arne Slot has been seamless, with the teenager earning a place in the first-team squad during pre-season. Ngumoha’s performances in friendlies were electrifying, showcasing his pace, flair, and clinical finishing. He scored a stunning goal just two minutes into a pre-season match against Athletic Club in August 2025, earning a standing ovation from the Anfield faithful. This followed an assist against AC Milan and a goal against Yokohama F. Marinos in Asian friendlies, signaling his readiness for senior football.
His pre-season exploits, which included three goals and two assists across four games, convinced Liverpool’s hierarchy not to pursue a direct replacement for Luis Diaz, who joined Bayern Munich, viewing Ngumoha as a viable deputy to Cody Gakpo on the left flank.
Ngumoha’s breakthrough moment came on August 25, 2025, when he made his Premier League debut as a late substitute against Newcastle United. In a dramatic 3-2 victory at St. James’ Park, the 16-year-old curled home a 100th-minute winner, becoming Liverpool’s youngest-ever goalscorer at 16 years and 361 days. The goal, which surpassed Darwin Nunez’s previous record for the club’s latest game-winning strike in the Premier League, cemented Ngumoha’s place in Liverpool’s history books as the fourth-youngest goalscorer in the competition’s history.
