‘Mental’ – Liverpool fans question key factor as major Rio Ngumoha news confirmed
Liverpool fans are unhappy at a certain detail of some major news emerging from the club on Rio Ngumoha’s future.
Rio Ngumoha has burst onto the scene at Liverpool this season to become a regular under Arne Slot at just 17-years-old.
The speedy winger joined the Reds from Chelsea in the summer of 2024 after being a standout in their academy, and he stepped up to train with Arne Slot’s first-team squad midway through last season.
Ngumoha became the youngest player to start a first-team game in Liverpool’s history when he made his professional debut against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup in January, and he shone on their pre-season tour of Asia to fully thrust himself into Slot’s plans for 2025-26.
With his late winner against Newcastle last month Ngumoha became the fourth-youngest scorer in Premier League history, and the club have now confirmed a huge decision on his future, but some fans have been left disappointed.
Liverpool announce Rio Ngumoha’s first professional contract
Liverpool announced Ngumoha’s first professional contract on Thursday (25 September) with a post to their official X account, saying: “Rio Ngumoha has signed his first professional contract with the Reds. Congratulations, Rio,” with a clapping emoji.
The Times’ Paul Joyce followed up their announcement with a post stating that the 17-year-old has signed a three-year deal to tie him down on Merseyside until 2028.
According to FIFA’s official rulebook, players under the age of 18 are not allowed to sign a contract for a term longer than three years, hence why the Reds have not handed him a longer deal.
Many fans were unaware of this rule, and took to the social media platform to express their discontent at Ngumoha’s three-year contract, with one saying: “Three years? He’s 17. Why isn’t it a 7 year deal? So if in three years he’s progressed massively but the club isn’t where he wants to be, he can leave for free? Mental.“
Another replied with the length of contract that they think the 17-year-old deserved, saying: “Only 3 ? Should have been a 15 year deal.”
One fan also gave their verdict on where Ngumoha could move at the end of his deal, saying: “Only a 3 year deal???? That’s a guy who’s only got eyes on Real Madrid….”
Ngumoha is certainly likely to have wanted to sign a longer deal, and it may well prove that he is handed extended terms when he turns 18 in August 2026.
Ngumoha could see his game-time lessened if Federico Chiesa keeps impressing
The 17-year-old has been a complete revelation this season, but Reds boss Slot will know full well that he will not be able to impress every time he plays due to a lack of top-level experience at such a young age.
Ngumoha was named in Liverpool’s Champions League squad earlier in September, with that being as much proof as any that he is set to play a big part in the first-team this season, and that the Dutch boss feels like he is ready to make an impact.
Chiesa has now also been named in Liverpool’s UCL squad after he was initially left out, with Giovanni Leoni pulling out due to injury, and him returning to form could mean that he jumps ahead of Ngumoha in the attacking pecking order for places in the weeks and months to come.
The Italian winger was one of the Reds’ brightest sparks against Southampton in the Carabao Cup last time out, while Ngumoha has not had a huge impact since his goal against Newcastle, and so Chiesa’s experience could prevail with the youngster potentially dropping into the youth team for an increase of game-time.