Just signed a new contract, Liverpool prodigy immediately faces a ban

Rio Ngumoha has recently signed his first professional contract but remains prohibited from entering the senior team’s locker room because of a unique regulation by the FA.

The future looks bright for Rio Ngumoha at Liverpool after the 17-year-old talent officially signed his first professional deal. However, paradoxically, although he is now a first-team player, he is still not allowed to use the same dressing room as the senior players at Anfield.

The English player is still subject to an unusual rule: banned from the first-team dressing room. The reason is not disciplinary or a personal decision by coach Arne Slot, but because Ngumoha is under 18. According to the English Football Association (FA) regulations, players under 18 are legally considered minors and are not allowed to change clothes with adults.

This means that although Ngumoha regularly appears on the pitch, he must change in a separate area, apart from his teammates. Arsenal faced a similar situation with Ethan Nwaneri. At that time, coach Mikel Arteta openly called this rule “unbelievable” because Nwaneri had to change elsewhere even on match days. Nwaneri was only allowed to use the common dressing room after turning 18.

Ngumoha will have to wait until next August, when he turns 18, to officially join Liverpool’s first-team dressing room. A similar case happened before with Arsenal’s Max Dowman, who debuted at 15 and became the second youngest player in Premier League history to appear on the field.

Having joined Chelsea at age 8, Ngumoha was once considered one of the Blues’ brightest prospects. His departure in the summer of 2024 was a significant loss for the London club, as he quickly made his mark wearing Liverpool’s colors.

Ngumoha became the youngest player to start for Liverpool’s first team in the FA Cup match against Accrington, then went on to make history as Liverpool’s youngest goal scorer with a strike against Newcastle. Recently, he also set the record as the club’s youngest player to appear in a European competition, coming on against Atletico Madrid.

Not only has he proven his ability on the field, but Ngumoha has also impressed with his professionalism, confidence, and quick adaptation. Receiving a new contract earlier than expected clearly shows the trust Liverpool’s management places in the 17-year-old forward.

Nevertheless, being “banned” from the dressing room is unlikely to hinder Ngumoha’s remarkable development. On the contrary, the professional contract and the club’s faith in him promise to open a new chapter, making this young player one of the most anticipated talents at Anfield in the coming years.