Rio Ngumoha Teken The First Professional Contract At Liverpool After Appearing Gemilang

Rio Ngumoha finally got a professional contract from Liverpool (Instagram/@liverpoolfc).

JAKARTA - Rio Ngumoha signed his first professional contract with Liverpool on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

The Premier League champions gave the teenager an award for his brilliant performance in the first team.

His new contract came a month after he scored his first goal for the club - a dramatic win in the 100th minute over Newcastle United (3-2). He was 17 years old four days after the performance.

Ngumoha, whose five senior appearances for the Reds also included a Champions League win against Atletico Madrid, previously signed with academy players.

He joined Liverpool in the summer of 2024 from the Chelsea academy. The court has yet to decide how much compensation Liverpool will have to pay to the western London club as part of the 15-year-old's move to the north.

Speaking after Ngumoha's goal at Newcastle United headquarters, Arne Slot praised the young star.

"He's a player who can finish the season very well for his age. How strong his shot is, he's rarely seen in players 16 years old."

"I heard someone in the dressing room, I don't know who, said they were going to take the ball, touch it first, then finish it. However, he is very confident."

"That's what I like because the first ball he gets doesn't scare him. He goes straight through the opponent's players."

"When the second player came, he immediately passed him. The goal he scored was not a coincidence because for his age, he was an extraordinary finisher," said Arne Slot at the time.

His goal against Newcastle United made Ngumoha the fourth youngest Premier League goalscorer in history.

Premier League Youngest Goalscorer

Everton vs Palace (April 10, 2005)

Leeds United vs Sunderland (26 December 2002)

Everton vs Arsenal (19 October 2002)

Liverpool vs Newcastle (25 August 2025)

Arsenal vs Blackburn (25 August 2004)