Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha signs contract extension to 2028 amid rapid rise
Seventeen-year-old forward signs a first-year pro deal worth £52,000 a year, a substantial rise from his scholar wages, as Liverpool push him toward a long-term future despite ongoing compensation disputes over his Chelsea origin.
Liverpool have secured the future of teenage forward Rio Ngumoha, confirming a contract that runs through 2028. The 17-year-old has agreed terms believed to be worth £52,000 a year for a first-year professional, a substantial rise from the £14,400 he earned as a scholar. Ngumoha turned 17 last month, and the deal complies with the FA's age-based rules, which cap the length of a first pro contract at three years for players of his age. The teenager has earned manager Arne Slot's trust after rising from the under-18s to the first team and making his debut in January against Accrington Stanley.
Ngumoha's early contribution has translated into opportunities. He scored the winning goal on his Premier League debut against Newcastle in August, becoming Liverpool's youngest-ever PL goalscorer, and has made three more league appearances while also featuring in a Champions League match against Atletico Madrid. He has emerged as a capable deputy on the left flank for Cody Gakpo, at a time when Liverpool did not replace Luis Diaz after his move to Bayern Munich this summer. The decision to keep Ngumoha on a development path is part of a broader strategy to cultivate homegrown talent at a club that has faced compensation disputes over his transfer from Chelsea last year. Chelsea officials described Ngumoha as a generational talent, and a tribunal was expected to set a transfer fee amid the ongoing disagreement; the Premier League's five-step process approved the move, but a final figure on compensation has remained unresolved.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has said he believes Ngumoha can be a long-term asset for the club, with the youngster's progression aligned with Liverpool's plans to balance youth development with immediate first-team needs. While the initial wage of £52,000 a year is a fraction of senior academy wages and far short of the salaries earned by established first-team players, the deal is designed to secure Ngumoha's commitment while his abilities continue to develop. The Chelsea transfer saga, which saw the 17-year-old move on a free, sparked a broader debate about compensation in youth football and highlighted tensions that have persisted since the switch.
As Ngumoha continues to rise, Liverpool say they will manage his development carefully, ensuring workload and exposure are aligned with his age and growth trajectory. The club's plan appears to be to keep him anchored at Anfield and grow him into a potential first-team mainstay, with a pathway to European competition if his trajectory holds. For Chelsea, the unresolved compensation question remains a reminder of last year's move and the broader challenges clubs face in valuing youth talent and negotiating fees across borders.