Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha has signed his first professional deal with the Premier League champions, capping a remarkable 12 months in which he has emerged as one of English football’s most exciting young prospects.
The 17-year-old forward, who only joined the Reds from Chelsea’s academy last year, has already made five senior appearances, scored a dramatic Premier League winner, and earned a Champions League debut. Now, he has committed his future to the Anfield club, though Liverpool have not disclosed the length of the contract.
A meteoric rise
Ngumoha announced himself in unforgettable style last month when he scored a 100th-minute winner on his league debut against Newcastle. That moment cemented his reputation as a fearless attacking talent and showcased why Liverpool were so determined to beat rivals to his signature.
Earlier in the year, the youngster had already made history. In January, aged just 16 years and 135 days, he became the youngest player ever to start a competitive match for Liverpool, featuring in the 4–0 FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley. The record underlined the faith manager Arne Slot and the coaching staff have placed in him.
This month, Ngumoha ticked off another career milestone, making his Champions League debut in the Reds’ group stage victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
Leaving Chelsea for Liverpool
Ngumoha’s journey has been closely followed since he was regarded as the standout player in his age group at Chelsea. Despite attempts by the London club to keep him — including assurances about his pathway and several lucrative future contract offers — the winger opted to move to Liverpool in September 2024.
That decision, he has since suggested, was motivated by his belief that Anfield offered a clearer route to first-team football. It is a choice already vindicated, with his appearances this season underlining Liverpool’s willingness to integrate young players into their senior squad.
Slot’s early faith
Manager Arne Slot included Ngumoha in his pre-season preparations, handing him starts against Athletic Club, AC Milan, and Yokohama F. Marinos during the summer.
Playing from the left wing, Ngumoha scored after just two minutes in the friendly against Athletic Club in Dublin, leaving the pitch to a standing ovation when substituted in the second half. He also registered an assist against Milan and found the net in a win over Yokohama during the club’s Asian tour.
Such performances made it clear that Slot saw him as more than just an academy prospect, instead integrating him as part of Liverpool’s first-team squad for the current campaign.
International recognition
Ngumoha’s rise has not been limited to club football. He has already represented England at multiple junior levels and earlier this month made his debut for the under-19 side. With his combination of pace, skill, and composure in front of goal, he is seen as one of the brightest prospects in the national youth setup.
The road ahead
While Liverpool have declined to confirm the length of Ngumoha’s new professional contract, the deal secures the player’s immediate future amid growing interest from Europe’s top clubs.
For the Reds, the signing represents both an investment in their future and a continuation of a strategy that has seen them nurture emerging talent while competing for top honours. With the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones having progressed through the system, Ngumoha is the latest in a line of players trusted to contribute on the biggest stage.
For Ngumoha, the journey is only just beginning. But with a Premier League winner already under his belt, a Champions League appearance to his name, and history-making records as the youngest starter in Liverpool’s storied history, his trajectory looks set to keep climbing.
As he begins his professional career, Liverpool fans will be hoping Ngumoha can continue to provide the kind of moments that have made his rise so memorable — and that this new contract is just the start of a glittering Anfield legacy.
