Liverpool did not pay a transfer fee to recruit Rio Ngumoha, who just scored the decisive goal against Newcastle in the 10th minute of injury time in the second round of the Premier League.

At St James’ Park on August 25, Ngumoha had a dream debut in the Premier League. After replacing Cody Gakpo in the 90+5 minute, the 16-year-old winger needed only five minutes to score the decisive goal, helping Liverpool defeat Newcastle 3-2.

Ngumoha was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 in London, England on August 29, 2008. From 2016 to 2024, he played for Chelsea’s youth teams. In the U17 Premier League final in April 2024, Ngumoha scored to help Chelsea defeat Wolves 3-1. But in the summer of the same year, the English football prodigy unexpectedly transferred to Liverpool as a free agent.

Liverpool are not required to pay a transfer fee. However, since Ngumoha left before the age of 24, Chelsea are entitled to demand training fees. British media reported that Liverpool could be required to pay around $3 million. The final figure will be decided by the court in the near future.

Rio Ngumoha celebrates scoring the winning goal during Liverpool’s win over Newcastle at St James’ Park in the second round of the Premier League on August 25, 2025. Photo: Reuters

After joining Liverpool , Ngumoha impressed so much that coach Arne Slot promoted him to the first team in November 2024. In January 2025, he became the youngest player in Liverpool’s history when he made his debut against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup.

Last summer, Ngumoha continued to improve, contributing positively to the pre-season preparation, including a solo goal against Bilbao. In the match against Newcastle, after the score was equalized 2-2, coach Slot gave Ngumoha his Premier League debut and reaped unexpected results.

At 16 years and 361 days, Ngumoha became the fourth youngest goalscorer in Premier League history, after Wayne Rooney (16 years and 360 days), James Milner (16 years and 356 days) and James Vaughan (16 years and 270 days). He is only the second 16-year-old to score a winning goal in the Premier League, after Rooney for Everton against Arsenal in October 2002.

Ngumoha also became Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer, breaking the record set by Ben Woodburn – who scored against Leeds aged 17 years and 45 days in 2016.

At 99 minutes and 44 seconds, Ngumoha’s strike was also the fourth latest winner in Premier League history, and the latest since Cole Palmer for Chelsea against Man Utd in April 2024 (100 minutes and 41 seconds).

“I really believe that one day I can win the Ballon d’Or,” Ngumoha told Liverpool TV in October 2024. “I want to be considered one of the best players in history and become a legend of the game. You can have a few bad games but you have to believe that you are the best. For me, if I’m not in good form, I just have to ignore it and work hard.”

Coach Slot said Ngumoha is very confident, not afraid to show off his dribbling s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s on the training ground in front of his seniors in the first team. And he is very happy to give a 16-year-old player his debut.

Captain Virgil Van Dijk added: “It was a dream debut. I’m very happy for him. It’s just the beginning. He needs to keep working hard and be humble. But he also needs to enjoy it and not take this achievement lightly.”

Ngumoha has yet to be called up to the senior team. For England U15, U16 and U17 teams, he has played 24 games and scored 6 goals.