Chelsea and Liverpool in legal dispute over history-making Nigeria-eligible forward

Nigeria-eligible forward Rio Ngumoha is at the heart of a legal battle between Premier League champions Liverpool and his former club Chelsea, according to The Telegraph.

Chelsea are demanding compensation for the 16-year-old, who departed Cobham in 2024 after declining to sign a contract. 

The Blues have reportedly taken the case to a tribunal in a bid to resolve the dispute.

Ngumoha, who wrote his name into Anfield folklore by scoring the decisive goal on his Premier League debut against Newcastle United on Monday night, became Liverpool’s youngest goalscorer in the competition at the age of 16 years and 361 days. 

The London-born player joined Chelsea's set-up as a pre-academy trialist at the age of six and went on to become part of their inaugural U8s cohort. 

Under academy rules, once a player is offered a scholarship, a two-year agreement covering the years in which they turn 17 and 18, a fee becomes payable if they opt to leave.

Chelsea tabled a scholarship offer, but Ngumoha and his family chose not to sign the deal, paving the way for his move to Liverpool.

Ngumoha made his senior bow for Liverpool in an Emirates FA Cup tie against Accrington Stanley in January 2025.

Since his breakthrough, the teenager has been named in the matchday squad on six occasions in official competitions for the Reds.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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