TBR Football can exclusively share how Chelsea feel about the rise of Rio Ngumoha at Liverpool after losing the 16-year-old in July 2024.
The England U17 international is now starting to make a name for himself at Anfield after being handed opportunities to shine by Arne Slot in pre-season this summer.
It took the Liverpool No.73 just two minutes to score against Athletic Bilbao last time out, running from the halfway line before curling an exquisite effort into the far corner.
TBR Football can now reveal what Chelsea are thinking about the sight of Ngumoha starring for a Premier League rival in Liverpool.
Exclusive: Chelsea annoyed by how Rio Ngumoha situation has developed
Graeme Bailey – Chief Correspondent for TBR Football – has now been told that Chelsea feel irked by the fact the teenager is starring for Liverpool instead of them.
Ngumoha was at Chelsea for eight years from 2016 to 2024 – joining the Blues at the age of eight – but it was Liverpool who managed to pinch the talented attacker from Cobham after showing him a clearer pathway to senior football.
As the Newham-born wonderkid begins to shine for the Reds, it leaves Chelsea with a sour taste, although nobody at Stamford Bridge is surprised by his rapid development.
Bailey says: “Chelsea know how good Ngumoha is. They were annoyed to lose him. It was a real frustration for them to see him walk away.
“They know losing players is part and parcel of the academy system now – you just have to make sure you have more wins than losses.
However – within football – Ngumoha was a name that everyone knew about. He had offers from everywhere, but Chelsea were shocked that he left.
“Now he is impressing at Liverpool, it is fair to say that Chelsea’s annoyance is not going away – but to see him become a success is not a shock to anyone at Stamford Bridge.”
Arne Slot could turn to Rio Ngumoha after selling Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich
The 16-year-old has one less competitor for a place on the left flank nowadays, after Luis Diaz was sold to Bayern Munich in a £65.5m deal, and Slot could give him a chance to impress.
TBR Football understand Liverpool are thinking about giving Ngumoha plenty of senior football in the 2025/26 campaign after selling the Colombia international, although there is still the chance of a replacement being signed from elsewhere.
Sources add that Real Madrid No.11 Rodrygo remains of interest to Liverpool – so the Brazil international is one player who could directly replace Diaz to allow Ngumoha to focus on his development.