Chelsea have been left to rue their failure to keep hold of teenage phenomenon Rio Ngumoha, who this week became Liverpool's youngest-ever Premier League goal-scorer
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' Park on August 25, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Rio Ngumoha became Liverpool's youngest-ever Premier League goal scorer this week
(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Premier League fans have been left stunned by Chelsea allowing a gem like Rio Ngumoha to join rivals Liverpool. This summer has seen the emergence of the English wonderkid, who caught the eye with his performances in pre-season.
Two goals and two assists earlier this summer were certainly enough to build hype around a player who hasn't even turned 17 yet. But, earlier this week, four days before his birthday, Ngumoha made sure everyone who hadn't been paying attention knew his name.
Arne Slot rolled the dice in the 96th minute by bringing Ngumoha off the bench for his Premier League debut, when the Reds were set for a disappointing 2-2 draw at Newcastle. The teenage sensation made a remarkable impact, arriving at the far post in the 100th minute to slot the ball into the net and send the away end into raptures.
His winner showed the important role he can play for the reigning Premier League champions this season. And the player, who only made his senior debut in January during the FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley, has already been vindicated for leaving Chelsea roughly 12 months ago.
Ngumoha arrived from the Blues as a 15-year-old last summer, having already trained with the first team at Stamford Bridge and having made nine appearances for the Under-18s. But he became one of the many Cobham starlets to leave in favour of more playing time.
Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah of Liverpool during a training at AXA Training Centre on May 16, 2025 in Kirkby, England.
Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah showed there was a pathway for young players at Liverpool
According to The Athletic at the time of his departure, Ngumoha decided to join Liverpool specifically after being motivated by the pathway Jurgen Klopp offered young players at the club.
That was down to the involvement that trio Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley and Trey Nyoni were enjoying in the first team at a young age, having been entrusted to varying degrees by then-manager Klopp during the 2023/24 season.
Ngumoha felt Liverpool would offer him a much more realistic chance of featuring in the Premier League than if he were to stay at Chelsea and attempt to break into the first team, which was a huge ask given their vast spending on new signings.
The Reds' victory over Chelsea in the 2024 Carabao Cup final, mere months before his move, was an example of the difference between the two clubs. Several of Liverpool's academy stars took centre stage at Wembley Stadium and came away as 1-0 winners in extra-time.
Rio Ngumoha signs for Liverpool from Chelsea
Rio Ngumoha was signed from Chelsea(Image: Instagram/rio_ngumoha)
Klopp most notably handed opportunities to Jayden Danns, Bobby Clark and James McConnell at Wembley. That same faith in young players has now seemingly transferred to his successor, Slot.
Nevertheless, Chelsea were understood to be furious at the time, given that Ngumoha joined their academy as an eight-year-old. None were more crestfallen than Blues legend John Terry, an academy coach with Chelsea, whose high praise of the teenager was a clue as to what he could go on to achieve.
"Good luck mate," was the former England and Chelsea captain's reply to Ngumoha's Instagram post that confirmed his belated arrival as a Liverpool player last summer. He added: "This boy is and will be a top top player."