Rio Ngumoha: The Young Liverpool Promise Captivating Football

Liverpool’s Jewel: Rio Ngumoha, the New Promise Igniting Anfield

Liverpool’s fanbase is in a frenzy, and not just because of the stellar signings that have strengthened the team. The emergence of Rio Ngumoha, a 16-year-old, has added an extra dose of excitement to the season. Ngumoha, an attacking midfielder with prodigious talent, had already shown glimpses of his potential. He became Liverpool’s youngest player to play in an FA Cup match, at 16 years and 135 days old, against Accrington Stanley in January 2025. However, it was in the friendly against Athletic Club at Anfield where the teenager dazzled. Within two minutes of the game, Ngumoha scored a spectacular goal that showcased his repertoire of skills. He stole the ball in his own field, surpassed Curtis Jones, and launched an attack to score from outside the area.

Ngumoha, who was trained in Chelsea’s youth system, was so coveted that Liverpool had to fight to get him signed. His performance in the England under-15 national team and in the UEFA Youth League increased his fame. On August 29th, Ngumoha will turn 17, a date that will coincide with the signing of his first professional contract. Liverpool has even relaxed its salary policy to secure the young talent, born in London and of Nigerian descent. He is expected to make an impact on the first team this season.

Gameplay Style and Strengths

Ngumoha, right-footed and usually on the left wing, is not your typical winger. He prefers to find spaces to take on his rivals in one-on-one situations. His goal against Athletic Club highlighted his qualities: exceptional dribbling, composure under pressure, and ambition to attack the goal. Last season, he averaged more than 10 dribbles per game at the youth level. Unlike many of his age, Ngumoha does not shy away from physical contact. He is 1.70 meters tall, but he is strong and brave in duels. He accelerates like a sprinter and his speed with the ball is remarkable. In addition, he possesses exceptional ball control and uses feints to unbalance the defenders. Ngumoha also stands out without the ball, with intelligent movements and high football intelligence. His header assist to Darwin Núñez against Athletic Club is an example of his ability to get into the area.

Ngumoha in action.

Aspects to Improve

Sometimes, Ngumoha’s confidence can border on arrogance. In the match against Athletic, he tried to take on several defenders, despite the low probability of success. These high-risk decisions can lead to dangerous losses. However, for Liverpool’s technical staff, this is not a serious problem. They prefer a bold and expressive attacker. Their defensive attitude is also positive, showing commitment and effort in recovering the ball.

“I don’t want to rush because I’m still young. But at the same time, I just want to show the coach what I can do and not be too complacent. I just want to do bigger and better things for myself and for the club”.

Ngumoha on his future

“We’ve only played two games here and we haven’t played against Premier League rivals yet, but I see him training, I see him playing, and the impact he has when he trains and plays is really promising”.

Arne Slot, on Ngumoha’s performance in the preseason

“This kid is and will be a top, top player”.

John Terry, Chelsea legend, on Ngumoha

The arrival of Ngumoha at Liverpool generated great expectation. The club hopes he will become the most promising attacker since Raheem Sterling in 2010. He trains with the first team and has the support of players like Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson. Slot doesn’t want to rush his development, but opportunities could arise, especially after Luis Díaz’s departure to Bayern Munich. Based on his preseason performances, Ngumoha is ready for the challenge.