Liverpool officially signs contract with the 'monster prodigy'

Liverpool has just officially announced the signing of a long-term contract with the 17-year-old prodigy Rio Ngumoha.

Rio Ngumoha joined Liverpool’s Academy in September 2024 after leaving Chelsea. In less than a year with the club, the 19-year-old player was rewarded with a professional contract thanks to impressive performances both at youth level and with the first team. Ngumoha has made 5 appearances for Liverpool, the latest being in the 2-1 victory over Southampton in the third round of the Carabao Cup earlier this week.

The highlight of his young career was the decisive goal scored at the 90+10' minute, securing a 3-2 away win for Liverpool against Newcastle United last month, which was also Ngumoha’s Premier League debut. This goal demonstrated rare composure and confidence for such a young player.

Just weeks after his first Premier League goal, the young forward was given another chance on the Champions League stage. He came on as a substitute in the win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield, marking his first appearance in European competition. Previously, Ngumoha had played for Liverpool’s U18, U19, and U21 teams during the 2024-25 season, making an impression with his technical skills, speed, and versatile finishing ability.

Notably, coach Arne Slot trusted Ngumoha with his first-team debut back in January this year during the FA Cup match against Accrington Stanley. Since then, he has been increasingly used at important moments. Many fans, witnessing his rapid rise, have not hesitated to nickname Ngumoha the "monster prodigy."

Signing a professional contract is a major milestone in Rio Ngumoha’s career and also affirms Liverpool’s youth development strategy under Arne Slot. The coaching staff at The Kop hopes he will continue to grow into a key figure in their long-term plans, especially as the club builds a promising new generation combined with experienced newcomers.

With a solid technical foundation, composure in big matches, and the trust of the coaching staff, Rio Ngumoha is expected to continue Liverpool’s tradition of producing young stars and become a familiar face for fans at Anfield in the near future.