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Liverpool have rewarded Rio Ngumoha with his first professional contract after his rapid ascent through the Anfield ranks. The winger only turned 17 last month and has now signed long term with the club he joined from Premier League rivals Chelsea in 2024.

Ngumoha has emerged as a regular in Arne Slot ’s senior squad this season, having made his debut for the first team in the FA Cup at the start of 2025.

However, it was during pre-season that the teenager really began to impress Slot and nail down a spot in the senior ranks. During the summer fixtures, he showed he was ready to step up from academy football with three goals.

Slot then handed him his Premier League debut last month in the dramatic 3-2 victory over Newcastle at St. James’ Park.

Ngumoha came off the bench on Tyneside to net a last-gasp winner and become the club’s youngest ever goalscorer at 16 years and 361 days.

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He then made his debut in the Champions League during the win over Atletico Madrid, with the youngster earning a place in the Reds’ European squad at the expense of Federico Chiesa.

Such has been his rise, Slot now sees the 17-year-old as a viable and serious option for minutes in his squad.

He will provide competition for Cody Gakpo on the left side of a fearsome unit which also includes Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Chiesa.

Speaking after the winner at Newcastle, Slot revealed Ngumoha's outstanding finishing ability means he is ahead of many players at the same age. He said: “He’s a player that can finish really well for his age. How firm his shot was, you don’t see this often for a 16-year-old.

“I did hear someone afterwards in the dressing room, I won’t say who, said they would have taken that ball, have a first touch, then finish it off. But he is so confident.

“That’s what I like, because the first ball he got he wasn’t afraid. He immediately took someone on. When the second player came, he got across him, and for him to score that goal is not completely a coincidence because for his age he is an amazing finisher.”

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