Earlier this month, Liverpool officially secured the signing of 16-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha. On Tuesday, he had the opportunity to train with members of Arne Slot’s first team.
With 19 senior players still away on international duty, Slot’s squad was notably thin, leading to several academy prospects stepping up to join the training session. According to The Athletic, Ngumoha was among the young players involved, highlighting the club’s belief in his immense potential.
Although Ngumoha is initially expected to feature for Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s U18 team this season, there’s a chance he could rise quickly through the ranks. The talented youngster will be eager to make an impression, particularly given Liverpool’s well-known commitment to promoting youth players into the first team.
During the session, Ngumoha trained alongside a few of Liverpool’s senior players. Curtis Jones was a welcome sight, returning to training after recovering from a minor muscle injury that kept him out of the last two matches. Others who participated included Darwin Nunez, Joe Gomez, and Federico Chiesa, who remained at the club during the international break—Nunez serving a five-game suspension following an incident in the Copa America.
Of the six first-team players present, goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros appeared to be managing an injury, while Harvey Elliott continues his recovery from a fractured foot. Though the group was small, Ngumoha’s presence hints that this won’t be the last time he joins the senior squad, given his talent and future prospects.
Liverpool has been actively strengthening their youth setup, and Ngumoha isn’t the only young addition. This summer, the club also signed 16-year-old midfielder Alvin Ayman, part of the club’s strategic approach to academy recruitment in the post-Brexit era.
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