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Chelsea at WAR with Liverpool over Rio Ngumoha transfer
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 26 Aug 2025 16:18 BST
- 6 min read
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Chelsea reportedly remain at war with Liverpool over Rio Ngumoha’s move to Anfield last summer.
The 16-year-old, who scored a last-minute winner against Newcastle United on his Premier League debut on Monday, left Chelsea to join Liverpool last summer, with Blues officials outraged by losing such a talented player.
Ngumoha reportedly opted to leave the west London giants due to the lack of a first-team pathway, and he has established himself as a member of Arne Slot’s senior squad at Liverpool over the summer.
However, the Reds are still at war with Chelsea over the transfer.
Following Ngumoha’s move from Chelsea to Liverpool in 2024, a tribunal was set to determine the compensation fee owed to the Blues.
A Premier League panel will make the final decision on the fee Liverpool will be required to pay Chelsea, although The Daily Mail claim that a conclusive result has not yet been issued, despite the fact Ngumoha has been at Anfield for nearly a year.
As a result, the two clubs are still locked in a legal battle.
Chelsea banned Liverpool scouts from attending academy matches after losing Ngumoha last summer, although they believe his winner versus Newcastle may strengthen their case for a major compensation fee.
What has been said about Rio Ngumoha?
Ngumoha became Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer with his strike against Newcastle and Slot was eager to shower him with praise after the match.
“He’s a player that can finish really well for his age,” Slot admitted to reporters. “How firm his shot was, you don’t see this often for a 16-year-old.
“I did hear someone afterwards in the dressing room, I won’t say who, said they would have taken that ball, have a first touch, then finish it off. But he is so confident.
“That’s what I like, because the first ball he got he wasn’t afraid. He immediately took someone on. When the second player came, he got across him, and for him to score that goal is not completely a coincidence because for his age he is an amazing finisher.”
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk added: “It is a dream debut for him. It was a perfect technique. We stayed calm towards the end as well, tried to find the right solution in order to score a goal, and we did it. I'm very pleased for Rio.”
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