Liverpool have tied down one of their most exciting prospects to a first professional deal, with Rio Ngumoha signing terms that will keep him at Anfield until 2028.
The 17-year-old forward, who officially became eligible for a senior contract upon turning 17 last month, has agreed a three-year deal – the maximum length permitted under FA rules for players of his age group.
For Liverpool, the last 12 months have offered the sight of a teenager taking his chance with both hands. For Chelsea, they have been a year of frustration, as one of the most highly regarded prospects from their academy has blossomed in red rather than blue.
Sources indicate the contract is worth around £52,000 per year the ceiling for a first-year professional at Anfield with incentives and performance bonuses that could increase his earnings. It represents a significant leap from the £14,400 per year scholar’s terms he had been on since arriving from Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2024.
Ngumoha’s rapid progression has been one of the defining storylines of Arne Slot’s second season in charge. The winger was introduced to the first-team picture gradually, with his first taste of senior football coming in January’s FA Cup victory at Accrington Stanley. But it was during pre-season that the teenager truly began to stake a claim for regular involvement.
Slot gave him opportunities to impress against senior opposition, and Ngumoha responded with goals against Stoke City, Yokohama F. Marinos and Athletic Club.
That form translated into competitive football when, in August, he stepped off the bench at St James’ Park to score a dramatic 100th-minute winner against Newcastle United. At 16 years and 361 days, he became the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool’s Premier League history.
That goal was more than a statistic. It was a moment that cemented Slot’s belief that Ngumoha could be trusted at the highest level.
He has since featured three more times in the Premier League, made his Champions League bow against Atletico Madrid, and started in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton. His emergence has been so convincing that the club did not seek a direct replacement for Luis Díaz, who joined Bayern Munich in the summer, instead viewing Ngumoha as a viable deputy to Cody Gakpo on the left flank.
Slot has spoken often about the importance of balancing opportunity with responsibility when it comes to young players. Ngumoha has been used sparingly, rotated into a frontline that includes Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa, but the trust already placed in him by the head coach is striking.
Those around the academy describe a player with outstanding natural balance, a low centre of gravity, and the ability to carry the ball under pressure. Combined with a temperament that has impressed senior staff, Ngumoha’s trajectory feels sustainable rather than fleeting.
Ngumoha’s rise provides a timely reminder of the value of youth recruitment, particularly in the aftermath of Díaz’s departure. The decision to retain him as part of the first-team group reflects a belief not only in his potential, but in his readiness to contribute immediately.
For now, the landmark of a first professional contract is both a reward and a responsibility. Ngumoha has earned his place in Slot’s squad through performances that have defied his age. How Liverpool manage his development from here could determine whether this promising start blossoms into something more enduring.
