Liverpool will have to pay Premier League rivals Chelsea at least £2.8m for winger Rio Ngumoha who left Stamford Bridge for Anfield.
The 17-year-old left Chelsea’s academy in September 2024 to join the Reds and signed his first professional contract with them a year later.
The Professional Football Compensation Committee (PFCC) tribunal has now decided how much Chelsea are owed for the English forward’s training and development while with the Blues.
The initial £2.8m is non-negotiable, but could rise through add-ons if certain conditions are met.
Chelsea will also be owed 20% of the profit if Liverpool sell Ngumoha.
Ngumoha has made 13 appearances across all competitions for Arne Slot’s side this season and scored a dramatic 100th-minute winner against Newcastle on his Premier League debut in August.
Rio Ngumoha runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Caylan Vickers of Barnsley during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Aged 16 years and 361 days at the time, the goal made Ngumoha the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool’s history.
He also became the youngest player to start a match for the club – aged 16 years and 135 days old – in a 4-0 win over Accrington in the FA Cup in January 2025.
The England Under-19 international was regarded as the best player in his age group at Chelsea, but moved to Liverpool because he believed there was a better pathway to first-team football.
Liverpool did not confirm the length of Ngumoha’s first professional contract. It’s left to see if he’ll fulfill his potential at Anfield or will still have to move elsewhere.
