Rio Ngumoha: Liverpool forward signs first professional contract with Premier League leaders
The versatile forward was at Chelsea for eight years
Liverpool forward Rio Ngumoha has signed his first professional contract with the Premier League leaders.
The Reds have not disclosed the length of Ngumoha’s deal but the England Under-17 youth international became eligible to sign terms for up to three years when he turned 17 on August 29.
London-born Ngumoha became the club’s youngest ever scorer with a 100th-minute Premier League winner in a 3-2 victory at Newcastle on August 25 and is their youngest player to have featured in European competition, having come on as a substitute in the 3-2 home win over Atletico Madrid in the league phase of the Champions League on September 17.
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Rio Ngumoha stats
Former Chelsea prospect Ngumoha joined Liverpool’s academy in September 2024, scoring two goals in eight assists in the Premier League 2 last season and making six Uefa Youth League appearances.
He started Liverpool’s 4-0 home win over Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup on January 11 and impressed during pre-season as manager Arne Slot prepared for his second season in charge, including goals against Stoke City and Yokohama, an assist against Milan and a goal and assist against Athletic Club at Anfield.
Slot named Ngumoha in each of his first seven matchday squads in all competitions this season, giving him brief substitute appearances against Atleti, Newcastle and Burnley, as well a start in the 2-1 EFL Cup home win over second-tier Southampton on September 23.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 31, 2025
Rio Ngumoha contract: ‘Patience is key’
Ngumoha said Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah – the 2024/25 Premier League top scorer – has been a role model and he had been inspired by “training with the best team in the world”.
“The players you get to train with, you learn from and you really test yourself against them,” Ngumoha told Liverpool’s website in July 2025.
“It has been very good. Patience is key. I don’t want to rush anything. I’m young. Just keep working hard, pushing hard and just showing the manager what I can really do, and affect the team.
“It’s really big [to be] learning from [Salah]. Everyone is really professional and you can see why they’re at the top. They’re always thinking about football, recovery, little things like eating right.”
Rio Ngumoha: Liverpool ‘massive shot’
Speaking during Liverpool’s Asia tour, teammate Harvey Elliott backed Ngumoha to continue breaking through in 2025/26.
“He’s going to have a massive shot this season,” said the Under-21 Euro winner. “We can all see his quality and I think he has a really, really big chance.
“In the upcoming years, hopefully he can show the world and everyone at Liverpool why he’s so highly rated.”