Who is Rio Ngumoha? Liverpool wonderkid who made controversial transfer from Chelsea
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Rio Ngumoha made Liverpool history on Saturday when he started their FA Cup third round clash against Accrington Stanley. Aged just 16 years and 135 days, he is the youngest ever player to start a game for the Reds. Liverpool fans have been quick to praise the teenager, labelling him a ‘quality baller’, ‘the best player on the pitch’ and a star with ‘crazy potential’.
![[Liverpool v Accrington Stanley - Emirates FA Cup Third Round]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2193393018.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
But it could have been a very different story for the wonderkid who already has ambitions of lifting the Ballon d’Or. Ngumoha, who wears the No.73 shirt, is a forward who plays primarily as a left-winger. Despite only turning 16 last August, the teenager has already been training with the senior Liverpool side and playing for their U18s.
![[Liverpool v Accrington Stanley - Emirates FA Cup Third Round]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2193390547.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=594)
So far this season he’s made 13 appearances for the youth side, providing four assists, and he was even named on the bench for the first-team’s Carabao Cup win at Southampton in December. He also has three caps for the England U17s. Ngumoha was a highly-rated member of Chelsea’s academy and last April he scored in the U17 Premier League Cup final victory over Wolves.
They were hopeful that the forward could be a great player for the west London club in the future, but instead he moved to Liverpool last summer after failing to agree new terms with the Blues. While a free transfer, Chelsea are entitled to a compensation fee from their Premier League rivals, but nevertheless the Blues were reportedly furious over Ngumoha’s exit.
