Rio Ngumoha made history on Monday night by becoming Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer at just 16 years and 361 days old.
His strike sealed a memorable 3-2 victory over Newcastle United, etching his name into the club’s 133-year history books.
The record-breaking moment came only two days after Arsenal’s 15-year-old Max Dowman caught headlines by winning a penalty on his Premier League debut.
Ngumoha went one step further, delivering the ultimate statement by scoring on his own league bow.
What made it even more remarkable was that Ngumoha had only been on the pitch for four minutes, replacing Cody Gakpo late on. That display underlined why the club’s coaches and supporters have been tipping Ngumoha as one of Liverpool’s brightest emerging stars.
Here’s all you need to know about Rio Ngumoha;
Date of Birth
Rio Chima Ngumoha was born on 29 August 2008 in Newham, London, England.
Nationality
He represents England internationally but is of Nigerian and Guadeloupean descent, holding eligibility for both Nigeria and France due to his parents’ heritage.
Position and profile
Primarily a left winger, Ngumoha can also operate on the right or as an attacking midfielder. He stands approximately 1.70 m tall and is right-footed.
Youth development
Ngumoha joined Chelsea’s academy in 2016 at the age of eight and rose through the ranks, even scoring in the U17 Premier League Cup final in 2024. Liverpool signed him in September 2024, prompting reports of discontent at Chelsea over losing such a highly rated talent.
Breakthrough
He impressed early on at Liverpool, featured in pre-season matches in 2025, and delivered standout performances—including a solo goal and assist against Athletic Bilbao, plus contributions in friendlies against AC Milan and Yokohama F. Marinos.
Senior debuts
In January 2025, Ngumoha made his professional debut in the FA Cup against Accrington Stanley. At 16 years and 135 days, he became the youngest player in Liverpool’s history to start a first-team match.
Goalscoring hero
On 25 August 2025, he came off the bench to score a dramatic 100th-minute winner against Newcastle United, sealing a 3–2 win. At 16 years and 361 days, he became Liverpool’s youngest-ever goalscorer and the fourth youngest in Premier League history.
International credentials
Ngumoha has represented England at the youth level, featuring for the U-15s, U-16s, and U-17s. As of mid-2025, he has accumulated 11 caps and 2 goals for the England U-17s and participated in the UEFA U17 European Championship cycles.
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