Liverpool broke own 'rule' for Rio Ngumoha that shows 16-year-old's true value

Liverpool starlet and former Chelsea youth Rio Ngumoha scored the winner against Newcastle in the 10th minute of stoppage time to mark one heck of a memorable debut for the 16-year-old

It's easy to see why Liverpool went the extra mile to sign Rio Ngumoha. The 16-year-old sensation announced himself to the world by scoring a stunning injury time winner on his Premier League debut against Newcastle on Monday – becoming Liverpool's youngest ever goalscorer and the fourth-youngest in the history of the competition.

Ngumoha, who turns 17 on Friday, was once the crown jewel of Chelsea's academy. But he ended up slipping through the London club's fingers thanks to some bold manoeuvring on Liverpool's part.

The Reds operate under a strict wage structure for academy graduates, but they made a rare exception in 2024 to lure Ngumoha to Merseyside. Although the teenager is officially on a scholar's contract worth £1,200 per month, his deal is supplemented by a package of bonuses that can substantially increase his earnings.

Such incentives are rarely offered at academy level, ESPN report, underlining both how highly Liverpool rate Ngumoha and the measures they were willing to take to ensure Chelsea wouldn't keep hold of him.

Ngumoha, born in London, first joined Chelsea's youth setup in 2016 and was widely regarded as a future first-team player. Former club captain John Terry, who has worked in the academy in recent years, hailed him on social media as "a top, top player" after news of his move to Anfield broke.

Chelsea pushed hard to keep hold of their prized prospect, but were ultimately beaten to the punch by Liverpool's ambitious proposal. The situation mirrors the departure of Jamal Musiala, who left Chelsea for Bayern Munich in 2019 before making his professional debut.

Liverpool will hope Ngumoha's career trajectory follows that of Musiala, who has established himself as one of the best players on the planet in recent seasons.

His goal against Newcastle offered the latest glimpse of his precocious talent, following on from his fabulous strike against Athletic Club in pre-season that effectively pushed him into first-team contention.

In a summer of heavy spending at Anfield, where attacking reinforcements have arrived in abundance, Ngumoha's emergence provides an intriguing subplot.

Though not a natural centre forward, he is a composed finisher capable of operating on the left side of Liverpool's front three – or, at the very least, providing valuable depth to the forward line.

His breakthrough also adds another layer to Liverpool's pursuit of Alexander Isak. If the Swedish striker joins, it will no doubt push Ngumoha down the attacking pecking order – especially with summer arrival Hugo Ekitike already firing on all cylinders and unlikely to be dropped.

A clear pathway to senior football was central to Ngumoha's decision to leave Chelsea, so Liverpool will need to balance their long-term ambitions with his short-term development.

It may still be early for him to demand regular minutes, but as Wayne Rooney – who, like Ngumoha, burst onto the scene at 16 with a jaw-dropping debut goal – proved: when you're ready, you're ready.