Rio Ngumoha has distanced himself from rumours of a possible move to Arsenal, insisting talks over a contract extension at Liverpool are ‘going well’.
Ngumoha made his senior bow for Liverpool aged just 16 back in January 2025, becoming the club’s youngest-ever player to feature in the FA Cup during a 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley.
The winger, now aged 18, has gone on to establish himself as a first-team regular at Anfield and is widely regarded to be among the most exciting young talents in the English game.
This season, Ngumoha has featured in five of Liverpool’s opening seven league matches under Andoni Iraola, while also starting the side’s three cup games against Atletico Madrid, LASK and Tottenham.
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That hasn’t put an end to speculation surrounding Ngumoha’s future, though, with top clubs in the Bundesliga, namely Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, said to keeping close tabs on the teenager’s situation in the summer.
And while Liverpool stood in the way of Ngumoha’s potential departure ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, Arsenal have emerged as another potential destination for the attacker.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein last month claimed the England international was well ‘liked’ at the Emirates, with the Gunners scouring the market for attacking reinforcements.
However, speaking after Liverpool’s comeback victory over Brentford, Ngumoha suggested the prospect of a move away from Merseyside had not even come into his thinking.
‘To be fair, that is all with my agent now,’ he told reporters when asked about his future shortly after the final whistle at the Gtech Community Stadium.
‘I think it is all going well. I am not too sure. I just let my football do the talking at the end of the day.
‘I enjoy playing, and all of that stuff is in the back of my mind really. I just play for the club, and hopefully I can carry on doing well.
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The summer arrival of Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz – and the departure of Mohamed Salah – has seen Ngumoha switch from the left to the right flank for much of this season.
‘I am enjoying the challenge and to be able to play off both sides is important,’ Ngumoha said of the change.
‘Do I have a favourite position? No, not anymore. I am getting to grips with the right wing now, and I am liking it. It gives me a bit more unpredictability. I have been working hard on the training pitch.’
Ngumoha enjoyed picking the brains of Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka after he was included in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for England’s recent Nations League contests.
‘I went away with England, and I was playing on the right, so I learned a lot there as well,’ the youngster said of the experience.
‘Watching the likes of Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka. I took on board some of the stuff they told me, and it’s really helpful.
‘Andoni wants me to take on players in one-vs-one duels. He wants me to be threatening. Off the ball, he wants me to help the team however I can. I am enjoying working with him and enjoying improving.
‘Whether I start or come off the bench, I have the same mentality. I know the club are just trying to look after me. We have some of the best attackers in the world, so competing for places is not easy.
‘It is all about healthy competition and we all just want to make the team win at the end of the day. So whatever minutes we get, we can’t be sulking, we just have to go out and show what we can do.’
Ngumoha’s current contract with Liverpool is not due to expire until June 2028.
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