Chelsea lose academy wonderkid to Liverpool as talented winger confirms switch

09/04/2024 06:28 PM

Chelsea have lost highly-talented winger Rio Ngumoha after the 16-year-old winger agreed a deal to sign with Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Ngumoha, who featured for Chelsea’s Under-21 side at the age of just 15, decided to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of last season.

The England youth international has now agreed a scholar’s contract with Liverpool where he will begin in the club’s Under-18 side.

According to The Athletic, the final stages of the deal have now been ratified by the Premier League but a tribunal may still have to be set up to agree a compensation fee between the two clubs.

Ngumoha could make his debut for his new club against Blackburn Rovers next Saturday and announced the move on his Instagram with the caption: ‘Delighted to sign for Liverpool YNWA.’

The move was congratulated by former Chelsea captain and current Blues academy coach John Terry who said: ‘Go luck mate.’

The 16-year-old arrives at Anfield with rave reviews having been named player of the tournament when Chelsea’s Under-16 side won the national championship last October.

Ngumoha reportedly even trained with the Blues’ first team at points last season and has two goals and two assists in his nine games for England Under-16s.

Despite being at Chelsea throughout the age groups, the teenager is said to have been keen on the move due to Liverpool’s track record of providing a clear pathway into the first team for younger talents.

His move marks the latest in a string of high-profile academy transfers between big Premier League clubs this summer.

Perhaps most notable is highly-rated striker Chido Obi-Martin who scored 32 goals in 18 games for Arsenal's Under-18s last season but is now closing in on a move to Manchester United.

Obi-Martin is expected to sign professional terms with United when he turns 17 in November and also attracted strong interest from Bayern Munich.

A move to Old Trafford most appealed due to the salary offered by United as well as their robust promises of a pathway into the first team, while Ruud van Nistelrooy is also said to have played a key role in persuading the young forward to make the switch.

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