By the time Rio Ngumoha struck with a solo effort in Liverpool’s 3-1 win at Yokohama during pre-season, the 16-year-old’s dazzling runs and productive delivery had made a goal seem inevitable.
England Under-17 youth international Ngumoha had also shone four days earlier against Milan in Singapore, including an assist for Dominik Szoboszlai’s equaliser in the 4-2 defeat.
Reds manager Arne Slot has been cautious in his praise of Ngumoha and warned him about his occasional pass selection, but others have been more effusive in their predictions.
Here’s what winger Ngumoha has had to say about his latest spell in the first team and why team-mate Harvey Elliott and two ex-Liverpool regulars believe he has a huge future.
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Rio Ngumoha: Liverpool’s Lamine Yamal?
Former Chelesa 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.
Jason McAteer, who made 139 appearances for Liverpool between 1995 and 1999, believes Ngumoha could solve a future transfer headache.
“When you look at the way the transfer windows are going for this type of player, we spent [up to] £116m on [Florian] Wirtz,” former right-back McAteer told LFC TV.
“As the seasons go on, that’s only going to increase and you’ll be looking at 120, 130, 140. In two or three seasons’ time, when he’s 19, and probably before that, when he’s ready to go in as a first-team regular, that’s going to save them 130 million.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 31, 2025
“It can be daunting when you move into a first-team environment, but he’s flourishing. I’m not putting him up there with [Barcelona’s Lamine] Yamal – certainly not – but if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
“It’s vitally important that Liverpool are producing academy talent season after season. The pathway for the academy talent is there if they’re given the opportunity. He’s a very, very special boy.”
Harvey Elliott: Ngumoha ‘incredible’
Harvey Elliott, who knows about expectations during a Liverpool career that began with the winger starting an EFL Cup match as a 16-year-old in 2019, called Ngumoha “fearless”.
“He showed that against AC Milan, one of Europe’s big teams,” said Elliott. “He looked like a kid in a park, although he is a kid. He just needs to carry on like this.
“We’re trying as much as we can to help him out. If he keeps on performing the way he is and working hard, the kid’s got an amazing future.
“I’m really excited to see where things go. Myself and the younger lads are closer to him in age. There aren’t many 16 or 17-year-olds in the team. He’s in because he’s incredible at his age and able to handle to himself.”
“It’s important the younger lads are around him and look after him, which is what we’ve been doing. Not leave him out – bring him into the squad and make him feel really part of it.”
Ngumoha: Andy Robertson an inspiration
Ngumoha, who started Liverpool’s 4-0 home win over Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup on January 11, called his display against Yokahama “a very big night” and “just the first of many.”
“I’ll keep on working hard and show the manager what I can do,” he vowed, crediting Andy Robertson with “really helping me a lot”.
“He’s so experienced and one of the best left-backs in the world. I feel like having him behind me, you can’t really ask for anything more.
“He teaches me a lot. [For the goal] I think they lost the ball and then Robbo passed it to me. In my mind, I was thinking ‘can I score?’, because I had a chance last time.
“My brother is the biggest person in my life – him and my mum – and he’s definitely buzzing. I’m not trying to rush because I’m still only young.
“At the same time, I want to show the manager what I can do and not get too complacent, because I want bigger and better things for me and the club.”
Staying sharp ⚡️
Quick feet from Rio ✨ pic.twitter.com/fPeEs8kJrf
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 23, 2025
Rio Ngumoha loan move: ‘You can get lost’
Neil Mellor was prolific for Liverpool at youth level but did not establish himself as a first-choice striker during his time at the club between 1999 and 2006.
“Decisions have to be made with these young players, whether it’s training with the under-21s or the first team,” said Mellor.
“Where’s his game time going to be? It’s not going to be in the reserves, like it was for us. Does he get enough in the under-21 or under-19 games?”
Mellor feels Ngumoha should not go out on loan. “I’m a big believer that somebody who’s as talented as that needs to learn the standards for what’s expected at Liverpool Football Club,” he explained.
“To train every day with the best players in the world would be massive for his development. If he went on loan to someone like, I don’t know, West Brom in the Championship or Southampton, you can get lost or go backwards a little bit. It doesn’t suit everybody.
“I think he’s in the right place and right environment, with where this football club is at, to be in a position to say ‘I might be needed, in a year or two years, to play in the first team’.”
Conor’s touch 🪄
Rio’s finish 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/Wc4nyI1m4l— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 18, 2025
Wirtz and Salah make team-mates ‘better’
Ngumoha was a month younger than Elliott when he featured against Accrington, although he is second to Jerome Sinclair – who was 16 years and six days of age against West Brom in the EFL Cup in 2012 – as the club’s youngest ever player.
“There are some 16-year-olds coming through who do well and are adaptable to their surroundings,” suggested McAteer.
“He’s one of them, I think. It’s a hard one because he’s a very, very talented player, but he’s 16. When I speak about ‘if you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ – that’s in a football maturity world.
“In life, there’s an immaturity about him because he’s 16. That’s not being critical. There’s a lot to learn – we’ve all been 16.”
McAteer also believes Ngumoha should stay put. “He needs protecting, in that sense, in staying at the club rather than going on loan,” he said.
“If he was 19… I’d put him out on loan at Blackburn or somewhere like that. Liverpool will be thinking whether he’s old enough to go out on loan or be kept hold of and develop.
“With the likes of Wirtz and [Mohamed] Salah, he’s only going to get better and mature quicker this season where he is.”
An incredible team move for the first 👏
Rio Ngumoha with a brace for #LFCU21s against Aston Villa ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/sV8uH0pXNC
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 22, 2025
Will Ngumoha play in the Premier League this season?
Elliott is backing 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.”
