Chelsea legend John Terry has shared an exciting prediction about Liverpool’s latest signing Rio Ngumoha.
The 16-year-old has officially completed his move to Anfield after the Premier League approved his transfer from Stamford Bridge.
Ngumoha turned down Chelsea’s scholarship offer in favour of joining Liverpool.
The London club, entitled to a compensation fee from Liverpool, is reportedly unhappy with the manner in which Ngumoha has been allowed to leave for what is expected to be a nominal fee.
The forward previously featured for Chelsea’s Under-21s and made nine appearances for the U18s in the Premier League last season,
He will initially join Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s Under-18s team at Liverpool’s academy in Kirkby.
John Terry, who returned to Chelsea as an academy coach last summer after a brief spell as assistant manager at Leicester City, sent a good luck message to Ngumoha on Instagram following the teenager’s departure.
Ngumoha confirmed his transfer on social media on Wednesday, posting: “Delighted to sign for Liverpool FC. YNWA.”
Terry commented on the post, replying, “Good luck mate,” along with fist bump and blue heart emojis.
Meanwhile, Terry also made a bold prediction about Ngumoha’s future when commenting on Fabrizio Romano’s Instagram post confirming the transfer.
“This boy is and will be a top top player,” he wrote, tagging both Romano and Ngumoha.
Liverpool Under-18s will next face Blackburn Rovers at home on Saturday, September 14.
The match will see Ngumoha and fellow summer signing Alvin Ayman both available to make their debuts for the club.
Liverpool’s recent success in integrating academy players into the first team has been a significant factor in Ngumoha’s decision.
The 2024 Carabao Cup final exemplifies this approach, as Liverpool triumphed 1-0 over Chelsea with Virgil van Dijk scoring the decisive goal in extra time.
Notably, Liverpool concluded the match with James McConnell, Bobby Clark, and Jayden Danns all on the pitch, and Caoimhin Kelleher, Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley, and Harvey Elliott also featured – players who developed through Liverpool’s youth system.
Since the end of 2020, following the UK’s departure from the EU, Liverpool have intensified their efforts to recruit top young talents from across the country, in response to increased difficulties in signing players from the continent.
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