Rio Ngumoha's 100th-minute winner for Liverpool against Newcastle has heightened an ongoing war between the Reds and Chelsea over the wonderkid and his goals may prove costly
10:56, 27 Aug 2025
Liverpool and Chelsea are at war over Rio Ngumoha
Liverpool and Chelsea are at war over Rio Ngumoha(Image: Richard Lee/Shutterstock)
Liverpool are locked in a financial dispute with Chelsea after taking prodigious young talent Rio Ngumoha from the Blues, with the Premier League now stepping in as the wonderkid continues to shine - adding insult to injury.
The 16-year-old made history as the fourth youngest scorer in Premier League history and the Merseyside giants' youngest ever when he netted in the 100th minute to secure a thrilling victory for Liverpool at Newcastle on Monday. Ngumoha came on as a late substitute and delivered an impressive finish to clinch the three points.
Last year, the prodigy left Chelsea for Anfield in a contentious move, with the west London club believing they had lost a once-in-a-generation talent - and Ngumoha is already proving them right. The Daily Mail report that a tribunal was due to decide on a fee but, almost a year after the transfer, the Premier League has yet to make a decision.
However, Chelsea believe Ngumoha's standout performance on Monday night will strengthen their case for compensation. And the wonderkid's impressive performances for Liverpool could add to any bill the Premier League champions have to pay their rivals, with his "playing record and achievements" playing a role in setting the figure.
A precedent was set a few years ago when Liverpool paid around £4.3million to Fulham after signing Harvey Elliott, who has since become a first-team regular, from their academy in a case that also went to a tribunal, reports the Mirror.
Ngumoha
Rio Ngumoha started his youth career with Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
According to the FA's website, in reaching a decision, the tribunal may consider some or all of the following criteria: "The status of each club; the age of the player; the amount of any transfer fee paid by the former club on acquisition of the player and the length of time the former club has held the player’s registration."
The tribunal may also consider "the terms of the new contract offered to the player by each club; the training and development of the player at the former club (specialist coaching, education, welfare); and the player’s playing record and achievements".
Other factors include "substantiated interest shown in the player by other clubs; other costs incurred by the former club directly or indirectly attributable to the training and development of the player, including any relevant medical or rehabilitation costs; and attempts made to reach an agreement concerning the amount of compensation due".
Liverpool's successful pursuit of Ngumoha did satisfy the Premier League's five-step procedure, but that offered little comfort to those at Chelsea and the animosity has persisted. They were so incensed that it's believed the Blues prohibited Liverpool's youth scouts from attending academy fixtures.
Ngumoha was crowned player of the tournament when Chelsea's Under 16s claimed the national title in 2023 and that undoubtedly attracted the attention of numerous elite clubs, with Liverpool now poised to reap the rewards.
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Arne Slot is well aware of his teenager's talent and made it evident he was destined for first-team action this season. Following Monday's magical moment, the Liverpool manager said: "It's, of course, special for him to score a goal in a moment like this."
Academy talents switching between England's elite clubs is hardly unusual. Last season the highly-coveted striker Chido Obi-Martin rejected the opportunity to pen his first professional deal with Arsenal and opted to further his career at Manchester United instead.