Who is Liverpool’s 16-year-old goalscoring hero, Rio Ngumoha?

England now has its next footballing prodigy, with winger Rio Ngumoha becoming Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer with his winner over Newcastle.

Ngumoha, who is only 16 years and 361 days old, demonstrated the poise of a player much older than his years when he fired a 100th-minute shot past Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope to give the defending English Premier League winners a 3-2 victory at St. James’ Park.

Ngumoha’s amazing finish came just four minutes after coach Arne Slot sent him on as a substitute for Harvey Elliott in his Premier League debut.

Who Is Rio Ngumoha?

Rio Ngumoha is a young English footballer. He has represented England at several youth levels, including U-15, U-16, and U-17. Ngumoha, acclaimed for his creativity and skill, primarily plays as an offensive midfielder or winger, and he has been recognized for his mature approach despite his youth.

Ngumoha joined the Chelsea academy at the age of eight and scored in Chelsea’s 3-1 victory over Wolves in the U17 Premier League Cup final in April 2024.

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Key Goals From Gravenberch, Ekitike, and Ngumoha

Liverpool’s victory was built on the efforts of a lot of players. Ryan Gravenberch and summer signing Hugo Ekitike each scored, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. However, it was teenager Ngumoha who delivered the decisive blow in late injury time to cap Liverpool’s winning start to the season.

Ngumoha joins the elite group of teenage Premier League goalscorers. Ngumoha’s achievement places him among the few Premier League players to score their first goal at the age of 16. This honor places him with great legends who began making their impact at the same age, and it demonstrates his immense potential.

Comparing Ngumoha to Rooney, Milner, and Vaughan.

Before Ngumoha, three players had scored in the Premier League before they turned 17: James Vaughan, James Milner, and Wayne Rooney. Rooney scored at 16 years and 360 days for Everton, Milner at 16 years and 356 days for Leeds, and Vaughan at 16 years and 270 days for Everton. Ngumoha’s strike occurred just a few days before his 17th birthday, on August 29.

Chelsea Academy Graduate Now Making Waves in Liverpool

Before joining Liverpool, Ngumoha spent eight years at Chelsea’s academy. The transfer reportedly enraged Chelsea, who saw Ngumoha as a ‘generational potential.’ This Merseyside shift marked a watershed moment in his illustrious career.

Liverpool Makes Historic Debut at 16

Ngumoha made his Liverpool debut in January 2025 as a substitute in an FA Cup triumph over Accrington Stanley. At 16 years and 135 days old, he was Liverpool’s youngest FA Cup player and the club’s youngest first-team starter.

Where does Ngumoha rank among the Premier League’s youngest goal scorers?

Ngumoha had already made history at Liverpool before the match against Newcastle. Slot gave him his professional debut last season, starting him against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup. Ngumoha, who was 16 years and 135 days old, became Liverpool’s youngest FA Cup participant and first-team starter.

Interestingly, Ngumoha was not the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history; that honor still belongs to James Vaughan, who scored for Everton in April 2005 at the age of 16 years and 270 days. Ngumoha’s goal earned him the second-youngest Premier League winner, falling one day behind Wayne Rooney, who scored for Everton against Arsenal in 2002 at the age of 16 years and 360 days.

Ngumoha is now Liverpool’s youngest goal scorer ever, surpassing previous record holder Ben Woodburn, who scored in the League Cup against Leeds United in November 2016.

A new golden generation incoming for England

While Ngumoha will obviously delight Liverpool fans, England fans will salivate at the thought of seeing him represent them on the international stage. Ngumoha is one of a number of promising young players for England.