Rio Ngumoha emerged as the youngest scorer for Liverpool. Ngumoha carved his name into Premier League history as the fourth and the youngest goal scorer at the age of 16 years and 361 days old.
Ngumoha turned 17 this Friday, and was playing his very first Premier League match when opportunity knocked deep into stoppage time.
Introduced late in the game, he pounced on a precise low pass from Mohamed Salah in the 100th minute and calmly slotted the ball into the net, sealing three vital points for Liverpool.
The strike elevated Ngumoha into elite company. He now trails only James Milner, James Vaughan, and Wayne Rooney as the youngest scorers in the Premier League’s rich history. Notably, he also broke Ben Woodburn’s Liverpool record, surpassing the Welshman who scored at 17 years and 45 days in 2016.
Manager Arne Slot was quick to shower praise on the teenager’s composure and clinical finish. “It was a great goal for a 16-year-old. Rio can finish so well for his age. I did hear someone say afterwards in the dressing room he would have taken a first touch, but he is so confident. For his age, he is a really good finisher,” Slot said after the match.
Ngumoha’s story is as remarkable as his debut strike. A Chelsea academy product, he spent eight years developing at the London club and was even named Player of the Tournament during Chelsea’s U-16 national title triumph in 2023. Despite his promise, a first-team breakthrough at Stamford Bridge never materialized. Keen to continue his development elsewhere, he moved to Liverpool’s academy in 2024 after the Premier League approved his transfer through a rigorous review process.
Since then, Ngumoha has steadily risen through the ranks, featuring for Liverpool’s U18 side and making his professional debut last season in the FA Cup at just 16 years and 135 days — a record that made him the youngest player to start a first-team match for the club. He also featured in two preseason friendlies ahead of this campaign, but his Premier League debut will undoubtedly be remembered as the true start of his senior journey.
Speaking after the match, the teenager expressed his disbelief at the moment. “I’m so happy to score, especially the winner, what a good moment. It was crazy, he (Slot) just looked at me and pointed at me like, ‘Quickly, get ready, and you just have to come on and make an impact’, and luckily and thank God I did that,” Ngumoha said.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk also hailed the youngster’s achievement but urged him to stay grounded.
“It’s a dream debut for him. I’m very pleased with Rio. I’ve said it to him already, it all starts now. He has to keep working hard and stay humble but definitely have to enjoy this because these nights, you can’t take them for granted if you’re in his position.”
With one unforgettable strike, Rio Ngumoha has stepped out of the academy shadows and into Anfield’s limelight. For Liverpool fans, the future looks dazzlingly bright.
