Liverpool are pushing to complete a new long-term contract for teenage winger Rio Ngumoha after reports emerged of transfer interest from several clubs, including Premier League rivals Arsenal.
The 18-year-old has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in English football since joining Liverpool's academy in September 2024, having turned down contract offers to leave Chelsea. That switch later led to a tribunal ruling that Liverpool owed Chelsea at least £2.8million, with add-ons potentially pushing the fee to £4million.
Ngumoha wasted little time announcing himself at Anfield. Under then-manager Arne Slot, he made his senior debut in the FA Cup in January 2025 at just 16 years and 135 days old, becoming the second-youngest player ever to represent Liverpool's first team. Since then, he has firmly established himself as part of the club's attacking plans, contributing two goals and an assist in 35 appearances across all competitions.
His current contract runs until June 2028, but Liverpool have long been working to secure his future beyond that date given his rapid rise. His talent has also caught the eye of England manager Thomas Tuchel, who included Ngumoha in a pre-World Cup training camp in the United States over the summer. Although he was left out of the tournament squad, Tuchel handed him a senior international debut against New Zealand, where he was named man of the match.
Until turning 18 in August, Ngumoha's contract options were limited by FIFA regulations restricting 17-year-olds to deals of no more than three years. Now eligible for a longer-term agreement, reports earlier this year suggested he was set to sign a new five-year contract running until 2031, with improved terms reflecting his rising importance to the club. He is also expected to compete for a starting role on the right side of new head coach Andoni Iraola's attack this season, following the club's £123million signing of Bradley Barcola, who operates primarily on the left flank.
Despite the widespread expectation of a new deal, no official confirmation has been issued. The Athletic's David Ornstein revealed on the outlet's FC podcast that Arsenal are among the clubs who have shown admiration for the young forward.
"I think there is some interest from Arsenal in Rio Ngumoha," Ornstein said. "There's interest from a lot of clubs in him. I did hear over the summer that Arsenal like him."
He added that such interest does not necessarily threaten Liverpool's plans to retain the player. "They are allowed to like him… it doesn't mean Liverpool will sell him. They want to renew his contract."
Adding another layer to any potential transfer, Chelsea would be entitled to 20 percent of any profit from a future sale of Ngumoha, according to the February ruling from the Professional Football Compensation Committee. That stems from his initial connection to Chelsea's academy, which he joined at the age of eight.
Given his rapid development and growing role at Anfield, it appears highly unlikely that Liverpool would consider parting ways with one of their most promising young players. The club's priority remains finalizing his contract extension to eliminate any uncertainty surrounding his future and quiet ongoing speculation from suitors.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (via The Athletic).