Fifteen minutes was all Rio Ngumoha needed to highlight why Liverpool believe they have landed one of the most exciting young attackers in the country.
The 16-year-old made his debut for the under-18s as a late substitute against Blackburn Rovers earlier this month and immediately caught the eye with an array of flicks, tricks and dribbles.
His arrival from Chelsea, who are bitterly disappointed to lose a player they felt was capable of progressing into the first-team setup, has created a buzz on Merseyside. Those who pushed hard to bring Ngumoha into the club for a compensation fee that has not yet been decided and may have to be resolved at a tribunal, are confident they have a gem.
Those who watched him against Rovers at Liverpool’s academy in Kirkby agreed. By the closing stages, there were screams from the defence to “hit him” and some increasingly wild challenges. It was some way to announce himself.
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, Liverpool’s under-18s manager, is keen to avoid overhyping Ngumoha. “He is here because he’s got potential to go and reach the first team, but besides that, there’s no pressure from us,” he said after the Blackburn game.
Steps to shield Ngumoha are likely to follow after what can only be described as a whirlwind entrance. After the transfer was confirmed by the Premier League following a five-step review, required for all moves between clubs with Category 1 academies, Ngumoha was introduced to the senior setup during the most recent international break. He spent a few days with the remaining first-team players and trained alongside Federico Chiesa, the new arrival from Juventus.
Then he was introduced to the under-21 team before preparing for his debut with the under-18s. Last week he featured in the UEFA Youth League game against AC Milan, under the watchful eye of club coaching staff including under-21 head coach Barry Lewtas, before impressing once again after coming on at half-time in the under-18s’ 2-2 draw with Leeds last Saturday.
“He needs to find some rhythm,” Lewtas said. “There’s no rush with him. He’s only just turned 16. Let him settle and find his way and let’s see where it goes.”
How quickly he settles into the new surroundings will determine the trajectory of his journey, but muffling the external noise will perhaps be the biggest challenge. John Terry, the former Chelsea captain who now has an academy role at the club, posted on social media that Ngumoha “is and will be a top, top player” when his move to Liverpool was confirmed, and there is no mistaking the excitement around him.
The Athletic has spoken to multiple sources with knowledge of the deal that took him to Liverpool — on the condition of anonymity to protect their positions — to understand why he was considered such a priority signing and what the future might hold.
Recruiting one of the most highly-rated teenagers in the country was no easy process, not least because Chelsea did not want to lose him, and there was a late push from the club to keep him.
Ngumoha has always attracted interest from the elite. He was touring top-level clubs across the country when he was just eight years old and spent time at Liverpool, Everton, and Manchester City, among others, before choosing Chelsea. Those within his inner circle have long predicted a bright future. His brother, James, is a big influence and was by his side during those early decision-making years and when he was considering a move away from London in more recent times.
In June, Ngumoha spent time at Manchester United listening to plans they had for him if he decided on a move. United pushed for his signature but felt they were already behind Liverpool in the race and eventually conceded defeat.
Chelsea know they have lost a player who has so much potential to develop. The attacker’s style hasn’t changed much since his early years when his mission was to entertain. He’s always been a fearless dribbler who loves the creative side of the game. The key, perhaps, will be to get the right balance in his attacking play as he matures.
An insider with knowledge of the Chelsea academy, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, says: “The coaches loved working with Rio because he’s a great kid, but also because he would take on board what they were saying. There had been times when he was trying to do it all by himself.”
One particular game where he stood above the rest was in the Under-17 Premier League Cup final between Chelsea and Wolves at Molineux in April. The scouting section was packed and even before a ball had been kicked, his name was the subject of most conversation.
His performance solidified what Liverpool, in particular, already knew; that he was a future star in the making. Not only did he score a stunning solo goal, but he also caught the eye with his purposeful running from left and central areas.
His performance also showed that he could step up when it mattered. This was a big final for the youngsters and not every player is cut out for the high-pressure moments. Clearly, Ngumoha is cut from a different cloth.
“It was a performance that was expected as he lived up to the hype,” said a scout who was watching that day. “Some of us thought he was a bit too flashy, but others were already on board with his quality.”
At Liverpool, there is a specific plan for each player in the academy and the club are determined that Ngumoah will get all the coaching and support he requires to maximise his talent, as well as an education that keeps him grounded.
There will be no special service or attention to the latest arrival. He has joined an age group on a scholar’s contract where the basic wage is strictly capped at £50,000 a year to keep those on board motivated for the future. Contracts are heavily incentivised to reward players’ progress.
Ngumoha is well regarded as a humble and likeable young man and his attitude in his first official week at the club has been exemplary. Staff have tried to speed up the settling-in process by exposing him to all sections of the club and show him the pathway if he develops in the way they expect, although he is playing catch-up after a period where he was training alone.
“He’s come from a big club,” Lewtas added. “It’s not like he’s been plucked out of obscurity. He knows what elite looks like. The environment that we create will help him and on top of that, we have got a lot of other good players around him. Some of the other boys are a bit older and they will help him settle.”
All the buzzwords you can imagine have been used to describe Ngumoha and any attempt to deflect some of the noise is going to be difficult. Liverpool’s plan will be to bed him in slowly, but this is a boy who plays like he is in a hurry.
Additional reporting: Laurie Whitwell
(Top photo: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
