Rio Ngumoha has ‘sparked a war’ between Liverpool and Chelsea after confirmed news
Liverpool and Chelsea remain hostile to each other in the aftermath of the Professional Football Compensation Committee (PFCC) tribunal for Rio Ngumoha.
That is according to former Everton, Aston Villa and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, who exclusively told Football Insider that the two clubs are now “at war”.
This comes after Ngumoha joined Liverpool from Chelsea in the summer of 2024, with his exit causing controversy between the two Premier League clubs.
It has been confirmed that Chelsea have been awarded a potential £6.8million in compensation for the transfer, but this has done little to cool the hostilities.
🏴💎 Rio Ngumoha (17) with a great goal for the Liverpool u21 team against West Brom. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/gQfgBrri3U
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) February 17, 2026
Keith Wyness: Chelsea scouts are being banned from Liverpool matches
With Ngumoha proving to be one of the best upcoming players in the Premier League, the loss of the 17-year-old has been a tough one to take for Chelsea.
The winger has already proven his quality in the Premier League this season, with the youngster hitting the winner against Newcastle in August to become their youngest-ever scorer.
As a result, Chelsea are furious, and speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained that the two clubs have been targeting each other in recent weeks.
Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha picks Mo Salah and Noni Madueke as his favourite wingers to watch 🪄🔥 pic.twitter.com/YVdTVgJ2y9
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) February 17, 2026
He said: “I think that they have got a real talent. I think it’s sparked a war from what I’m hearing as well.
“Chelsea scouts are being banned from Liverpool games and different things. And there’s talk of Chelsea going to target some of the Liverpool youngsters and their youth teams.
“These things tend to go on for a little while, then they blow out and they blow over. I’ve been involved in a few of those sort of things, tit for tat sort of situations, but then personalities leave and different things go on and it gets back to normal.
“But I think there’s no doubt that Chelsea have got every right to feel aggrieved and Liverpool should be celebrating the fact they’ve got a talent like this at that sort of price.”
What has Arne Slot said about Ngumoha?
In a poor season for Liverpool this season, Ngumoha has been one of the bright sparks.
The youngster is clearly full of talent and possesses plenty of quality early in his career.
Speaking to beIN Sports on 25 August 2025, after Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Newcastle, Slot said: “He’s a player that can finish really well for his age. How firm his shot was, you don’t see this often for a 16-year-old.
“I did hear someone afterwards in the dressing room, I won’t say who, said they would have taken that ball, have a first touch, then finish it off, but he is so confident.
“That’s what I like, because the first ball he got he wasn’t afraid. He immediately took someone on. When the second player came, he got across him, and for him to score that goal is not completely a coincidence because for his age he is an amazing finisher.”