Rio Ngumoha announces himself to Anfield in style with a stunning goal for Liverpool
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool scores his team's first goal during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Athletic Club Bilbao at Anfield on August 04, 2025
(Image: Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
It took Rio Ngumoha just 87 seconds to make his presence felt against Athletic Bilbao on Monday evening. While Liverpool have spent just short of £300m so far this summer, it has been the teenager - signed from Chelsea last year - who has arguably been the star of their pre-season.
He played a part in creating Conor Bradley’s opener against Preston North End in the Reds’ first friendly, before scoring a deflected effort behind closed doors against Stoke City.
Such form was continued onto the pre-season tour of Asia too, as the 16-year-old registered an assist against AC Milan for Dominik Szoboszlai before scoring a stunning effort against Yokohama F. Marinos.
But this was his first chance to stake his claim in front of a full home crowd during a summer to remember. And he did not hang about.
After Harvey Elliott slid in to win possession on the halfway line, Ngumoha raced onto the loose ball and dribbled forward to the edge of the box before bending an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner.
Prompting wild celebrations both on the pitch and in the stands, the Kop responded by chanting his name. Even if ‘just’ a pre-season friendly, only an A-list collection of teenagers will have been afforded such treatment on the hallowed Anfield turf before - but certainly not a 16-year-old.
Moments later, he added an assist, heading down Ben Doak’s cross at the far post to gift Darwin Nunez a tap-in. Beyond that, he created further anticipation and excitement whenever he got on the ball - even if he could not add to his early contributions.
Supporters have always been cautiously aware of Ngumoha’s abilities, knowing the club had snapped up one of the most highly-rated youngsters in the country when luring him away from Stamford Bridge.
When handed his senior debut against Accrington Stanley back in January, it would have acted as the first opportunity many would have had to see the starlet in action.
But seven months later, wearing Liverpool’s new Adidas home kit for the first time - and with it scoring its first goal - the ‘worst secret in football’ is well and truly out. Ngumoha is a talent.
His debut against Accrington proved to be his only appearance of last season, but given his pre-season showings, he is certainly ready to have more of an impact this year.
However, with Ngumoha still not even 17 until the end of the month, Liverpool and their supporters will still have to be patient. Afforded a standing ovation when replaced in the 67th minute against Bilbao, as talented as he is, it is important to remember he is not the finished article.
While he had a goal and an assist to his name inside just six minutes against Bilbao, his impact after that was slightly limited. It feels strange to say but it was arguably one of his ‘quieter’ showings of pre-season, despite the two goal contributions.
Boasting pace to burn and a bag of tricks, he has certainly taken advantage of the Reds’ decision not to field Luis Diaz while uncertainty about his future persisted. With the Colombian now a Bayern Munich player, further opportunities will follow.
But it would still be a bold call for Arne Slot to come out of the summer transfer window with Ngumoha as the only natural deputy for Cody Gakpo on the left-hand side.
Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Szoboszlai are all options on that flank, as too are Nunez and Federico Chiesa - if they do not move on. Alexander Isak would be also, if Liverpool were successful in their pursuit of the Swede.
Ngumoha rightly creates excitement. And his time will come, with his pre-season showings certainly whetting the appetite of supporters. But that does not guarantee a prominent role week after week in the campaign ahead, with Liverpool still having five senior attacking options ahead of him.
The Reds have a gem in Ngumoha, so remember the name. But this is only the beginning of what could prove to be a dazzling career. As remarkable as it is to remind ourselves, he is still only 16.