Rio Ngumoha Emerges as Liverpool’s Answer to the Salah Void

Liverpool will test Rio Ngumoha on the right wing during this month’s tour of the United States, auditioning the 17-year-old academy product for the flank Mohamed Salah leaves behind. Pre-season training opens at the AXA Training Centre on July 13, with three American friendlies to follow.

Sports247 Nigeria first floated the idea that Ngumoha could inherit Salah’s shirt. Days later, reporting out of Liverpool’s own camp suggested the switch had been discussed internally, even though the club is still pricing proven wingers rather than betting everything on a teenager.

Munoz’s Arrival Leaves a Gap on the Other Wing

Liverpool have not signed a direct Salah replacement. But they have added Victor Munoz, a £34.5 million winger who is another who is a natural on the left.

That overlap is why the Liverpool Echo’s Paul Gorst reports that the prospect of him switching to the right wing has been “floated internally” as Mo Salah departs, under new head coach Andoni Iraola, the former Bournemouth boss now in charge at Anfield.

Ngumoha made his England debut on the right-hand side and earned the Man of the Match award for his display in last month’s 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand, showing he can operate away from his favored side.

The likelihood remains that Ngumoha’s long-term future will be on the left wing, but adding that versatility to his game will only benefit him as he develops.

Why Is Ngumoha Suddenly in Line for Salah’s Shirt?

Ngumoha broke into Liverpool’s first team as a 16-year-old. He scored a stoppage-time Premier League winner on his debut and became the club’s youngest-ever Champions League player. Then he won Man of the Match on his England debut, a rise that lines up almost exactly with Salah’s exit.

On 25 August, Ngumoha made his Premier League debut as an added-time substitute for Cody Gakpo and scored in the 10th minute of stoppage time, securing a 3-2 away win over Newcastle United and becoming the youngest goalscorer in club history.

On 11 April 2026, Ngumoha scored his first goal at Anfield in a 2-0 win against Fulham, becoming the youngest player to achieve this feat, aged 17 years and 225 days, breaking a record held by Raheem Sterling.

On 17 September, he made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid, at just 17 years and 19 days old, making him the youngest Liverpool player to appear in the competition.

• 551 Premier League minutes: for players under the age of 17 during the 2025-26 season, Ngumoha had more than anyone, playing 551 Premier League minutes, eclipsing the 153 played by Max Dowman. The league keeps his season broken down appearance by appearance.
• Two club awards: Rio Ngumoha wins Premier League Debutant of the Season and Scholar of the Year awards.
• World Cup training squad: Rio Ngumoha has been called up to the England squad for the World Cup, but the 17-year-old Liverpool winger will not be able to play in the tournament.

Those numbers are why Ngumoha’s name comes up whenever Liverpool discuss life without Salah.

The £2.8 Million Chelsea Invoice

Ngumoha’s rise carries a bill that has nothing to do with form. On 5 February 2026, a Professional Football Compensation Committee (PFCC) tribunal ordered that Liverpool must reimburse Chelsea a minimum of £2.8 million (roughly $3.5 million) for Ngumoha’s training and development while with the Blues.

The non-negotiable terms include a 20 percent sell-on clause which will entitle Chelsea to a fifth of any profit if Ngumoha is sold in the future.

A potential £6.8 million fee is believed to be the second-highest set by a tribunal in English football history, with Liverpool also paying the record to sign Danny Ings from Burnley in 2016 for £8m.

Chelsea fought hard to keep him. Manchester United were among those who had hoped to land a deal for Ngumoha, while Chelsea made several attempts to convince the teenager his future was best served at Stamford Bridge, an exit that strained relations between the two clubs.

The investment is already being tested on the continental stage. UEFA’s own data credits him with four Champions League matches played and 63 minutes played so far, using four Champions League appearances worth 63 minutes, all of it as a teenager still finding his footing among Liverpool’s seniors.

Sagna, Cole and Barnes Do Not Agree on the Plan

Not everyone close to the England set-up agrees on how fast to push him.

• Bacary Sagna – the former Arsenal and Manchester City defender dismissed the idea that Michael Olise should be viewed as the perfect Salah replacement, saying, “If I had to choose someone to replace Salah at Liverpool, I would not buy someone special”.
• Joe Cole – the former Liverpool and England midfielder told Goal, “I think Liverpool, now Ekitike is out for a long time, there are holes there. He’s not going to start in the next season, I’m sure”.
• John Barnes – the Reds legend said, “Leave him alone and let him develop,” comparing the hype to Theo Walcott, who went to a World Cup at 16.

Liverpool.com’s own view is that Ngumoha is going to be a fascinating player under Iraola, who has a reputation for getting the most out of wide players.

The USA Tour Becomes His Proving Ground

Iraola will conduct media duties for the first time at an unveiling press conference at 11am on Monday, July 13 as pre-season training begins.

Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Milos Kerkez and Rio Ngumoha should all walk through the door on day one for training. Eight Liverpool players who reached the World Cup’s knockout rounds will not join full training until later in the tour.

• July 25 – Sunderland in Nashville.
• July 30 – Wrexham in New York, at Yankee Stadium.
• August 2 – Leeds in Chicago, at Soldier Field.

Expect a young side to feature due to Liverpool’s World Cup participants not having yet returned for the opener, which hands Ngumoha an unusually long runway to impress before the picture gets crowded again.

He was just guiding me through the game, helping me. Right wing, I’ve played there a couple of times, but it’s not my natural position. I can obviously play there.

Ngumoha credited right-back Reece James for helping him adjust to the role after his Man-of-the-Match display against New Zealand.

Liverpool Keeps Shopping While He Auditions

Even as Ngumoha trains on the right, Liverpool are still pricing established wingers for the same problem.

Reports in France claim Paris Saint-Germain will demand a British record fee for Bradley Barcola, now valued at €150 million (£127.8m), which would eclipse the £125 million paid to sign Alexander Isak.

Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh, a left-footer who plays from the right, has also emerged as a more direct replacement for Salah, though reports suggest he is not close to the output that Salah managed.

None of that has stopped Liverpool from rebuffing outside interest in Ngumoha himself. Transfer reporter David Ornstein reported that Bayern were exploring a move for the 17-year-old winger, with Liverpool insisting he was not for sale. Liverpool was left baffled by Bayern Munich’s approach, with the winger not expected to leave the club this summer.

His last Premier League appearance of the season came on May 15 against Aston Villa, where he played a full 90 minutes in that 4-2 defeat, a reminder that a regular starting shirt is still not guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Old Is Rio Ngumoha and When Can Liverpool Sign Him Long-Term?

Ngumoha turns 18 on August 29, 2026. Liverpool.com reports he can be expected to sign a long-term contract with Liverpool once he reaches that age, having already earned his first professional contract with the club, signed on 25 September 2025.

What Shirt Number Does Rio Ngumoha Wear at Liverpool?

He wears the No. 73 shirt. UEFA’s Champions League records list Club number 73, and This Is Anfield has referenced his No. 73 while discussing Iraola’s right-wing options for pre-season.

What Was Ngumoha’s Route Through Chelsea’s Academy?

He joined Chelsea’s academy when he was eight and left when he was sixteen, having scored in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Wolves in the U17 Premier League Cup final in April 2024 before his move to Liverpool.

Will Rio Ngumoha Start for Liverpool Next Season?

Nothing is confirmed. He was selected in the starting XI in four of his appearances across 37 fixtures and used predominantly as a substitute on 14 occasions in 2025-26, and Liverpool are still expected to sign another senior winger even as Iraola experiments with him on the right this pre-season.

When Will We Know If the Right-Wing Move Is Working?

Liverpool open the Premier League season away at Newcastle United on Sunday, August 23, after the US tour and a run of home friendlies. That gives Iraola about five weeks, tour included, to judge whether Ngumoha belongs on the right before a competitive ball is kicked.