When Liverpool needed a hero at St. James’ Park on Monday night, few would have expected it to come in the form of a teenager making his Premier League debut.
But Rio Chima Ngumoha, just 16 years and 361 days old, stepped up to the plate and wrote his name into Premier League and Liverpool history with a dramatic 100th-minute winner against Newcastle United.
In doing so, he became the Red’s youngest-ever goalscorer and only the fourth 16-year-old in English top flight history to net a match-winning goal, joining Wayne Rooney, James Vaughan and James Milner in that exclusive club.
Footynaija.com takes a look at this prodigious talent, with a deep-dive into what makes his story so remarkable.
From a Chelsea prospect to Liverpool’s future
Born on 29 August 2008 in Newham, East London, Ngumoha began his football journey in Chelsea’s youth academy at the age of eight. A gifted left-footed attacker with exceptional technical ability, he quickly stood out in the Blues’ youth setup.
At Chelsea, Ngumoha’s stock rose rapidly. He was named Player of the Tournament at the Under-16 Premier League Nationals in 2023, a performance that highlighted his potential as one of the most exciting prospects in English football.
However, despite his talent, a breakthrough at Stamford Bridge seemed uncertain in a club brimming with academy graduates and big-money signings.
In September 2024, Ngumoha made the bold decision to leave Chelsea for Liverpool in search of a clearer pathway to senior football. The move raised eyebrows but for the youngster, Arne Slot’s Reds offered a vision that aligned with his ambition.
Ngumoha settled quickly on Merseyside, starring for Liverpool’s Under-18s and Under-21s, where his creativity and eye for goal continued to shine.
He marked his presence in youth competitions before making history on 11 January 2025, when he debuted in an FA Cup tie against Accrington Stanley at just 16 years and 135 days old, becoming one of Liverpool’s youngest-ever players.
Since then, Ngumoha has continued to prove his worth for the Premier League champions. He featured heavily in Liverpool’s summer pre-season tour and delivered four goals contributions (2G, 2A) in four matches.
Ngumoha’s pre-season performances cemented his place in Slot’s first-team setup and when handed his Premier League debut against Newcastle United on Monday night, the teenager announced his arrival in dramatic fashion.
Brought on in stoppage-time, after Liverpool had squandered a two-goal lead to 10-men Newcastle, the 16-year-old latched onto a Mohamed Salah pass in the 100th minute and calmly slotted home, sparking wild celebrations from the travelling supporters.
Rio Ngumoha’s Nigerian roots and international future
Born to Nigerian parents and carrying strong ties to his roots, he is eligible to represent Nigeria at senior level, a prospect that will no doubt cause excitement among Super Eagles supporters.
His middle name and surname, Chima Ngumoha, reflects his rich Igbo heritage and this could potentially make him a prime target for the Nigerian Football Federation in the future.
Interestingly, Ngumoha also holds French nationality through his Guadeloupean lineage, making him eligible for three different nations at international level: England, Nigeria and France.
For now, he has been turning out for England’s youth teams, featuring at U15, U16 and U17 levels. He even represented the Young Lions at the 2025 UEFA Under-17 European Championship.
Yet, with increasing instances of dual-nationality stars choosing their countries of heritage over England, the possibility of Ngumoha one day wearing the green and white of the Super Eagles remains alive.