Arsenal have expressed interest in signing highly rated Liverpool youngster Rio Ngumoha, according to Football Insider.
Ngumoha is a product of Chelsea’s prestigious Cobham Academy setup, where he came into the limelight. Contractual disagreements with the club led to a fierce battle for his signature before Liverpool won the race to bring him to their academy in the summer of 2024.
After impressing with the U18 & U19 youth ranks, he was handed his first-team debut in January 2025 at just 16 years and 135 days old in the 4-0 FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley, becoming the youngest player to start a competitive game for Liverpool.
The winger, described as ‘special’ by Virgil van Dijk, has gone on to make 35 appearances and most notably netted a late winner for Liverpool in the 3-2 win over Newcastle United last season to become the Premier League’s fourth-youngest scorer behind James Vaughan, James Milner, and Wayne Rooney.
However, in the ongoing campaign, Ngumoha has fallen behind the pecking order on the left wing due to the myriad of left wingers in Andoni Iraola’s squad, alerting several clubs to the youngster’s situation.
One of the clubs looking to sign Ngumoha is Arsenal, according to Football Insider, which claims that the North Londoners have, in recent months, shown interest in signing the 18-year-old.
‘Special’ player
Explaining further on the Gunners’ interest, transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed on the Transfer Insider podcast: ‘It’s no surprise that Arsenal are looking at Rio Ngumoha and are interested in him. I’m sure a number of top clubs will be interested in the winger.
‘When you get top young players like this, they’re always going to attract interest from other clubs
However, the journalist reveals that Liverpool remain ‘confident’ about keeping the 18-year-old and are in talks with his entourage over his contract extension.
He added, ‘Liverpool are pretty relaxed about this whole situation’.
‘When you get top young players like this, they’re always going to attract interest from other clubs, but Liverpool are confident that his long-term future will be at Anfield.’
Arsenal’s interest in Ngumoha is not surprising. The Premier League champions have adopted a youth-driven recruitment policy in recent seasons that has brought in exciting young prospects like Evan Mooney, Jaden Dixon, Elijah Upson, Axel Donczew and most recently Vincent Joseph.
While Ngumoha, who will likely cost well over his £25m Transfermarkt valuation, is viewed as a potential first-team addition, he still fits into the model, and Arsenal will hope to use the prospect of regular playing time on the left wing to convince him to join them.
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