Rio Ngumoha is set to sign his first professional contract with Liverpool.
Ngumoha joined the Reds from Chelsea shortly after his 16th birthday last year and enjoyed an impressive debut season.
Highlights included making a full first-team debut, starting in the FA Cup against Accrington Stanley, alongside regular appearances for the U21, U19, and U18 sides, while also training with the senior squad.
His development is expected to continue into the 2025/26 season, with potential increased involvement in first-team football, including participation in pre-season activities.
Next month, coinciding with Ngumoha’s 17th birthday, the teenager is poised to officially sign his professional contract.
Due to restrictions on youth signings, Ngumoha initially joined Liverpool on a scholarship. However, players are eligible to sign professional deals once they turn 17.
The maximum length for a first professional contract is three years, meaning Ngumoha would be tied to Liverpool until 2028.
It’s likely Ngumoha agreed to provisional terms before his move to Merseyside, with the club carefully planning his pathway to convince him his future lies at Liverpool.
Liverpool could also announce professional contracts later this month for goalkeeper DJ Bernard, midfielder Ollie O’Connor, forward Joe Bradshaw, and versatile player Prince Kobe Cisse.
While those players are expected to remain in the academy for now, Ngumoha should see more first-team opportunities in the coming weeks and months.
Although details of the start of pre-season sessions are not yet fully disclosed, the 16-year-old is expected to be part of manager Arne Slot’s squad for warm-up fixtures and could feature against Preston this Sunday.
Liverpool will embark on their Asia tour later in July, where Slot will decide which young players to include for friendlies against AC Milan and Yokohama F. Marinos.
Pre-season will conclude with a double-header against Athletic Club at Anfield and the Community Shield clash against Crystal Palace.
Ngumoha’s involvement will likely depend on the impression he makes early in the summer.
Ngumoha is expected to begin the new campaign as part of Liverpool’s U21 squad, now managed by former Wales manager Rob Page.
Page was appointed last month as a replacement for Barry Lewtas, while Liverpool have yet to announce a successor for Marc Bridge-Wilkinson as U18 head coach.
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