Rio Ngumoha leaves Chelsea for Reds as John Terry sends three-word message

Liverpool have completed the signing of huge attacking talent Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the deal and the 16-year-old winger receiving a departure message from legendary Blues star and academy coach John Terry.

The teenager is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in football, having had a handful of training sessions with Chelsea's first team last season and also making five appearances for the Under-21 side at just 15 years of age. However, the England youth international has been in talks with Liverpool for weeks and has now completed a move to Anfield on a scholarship deal, where he will start out with the Under-18s.

The Reds have reportedly already agreed terms to tie the 16-year-old to a professional contract once he turns 17 in July 2025.

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The winger's signing was completed with the Reds actually registering the player last month and with only the bureaucratic process involved around the deal delaying an announcement for so long.

With the Premier League now also confirming the transfer, a tribunal will likely be needed to finalise the transfer fee and compensation Liverpool will have to pay Chelsea.

And while the move has been long-awaited, the Blues are understandably disappointed to see the highly-rated prospect leave, despite their best efforts to persuade him to stay.

Confirming that the move had been made, journalist Fabrizio Romano went to Xformerly Twitterto post: “Liverpool have completed the Premier League's 5-stage investigation process for Rio Ngumoha to join the club, it has been confirmed. The 2008-born talent has agreed the move after leaving Chelsea, as exclusively revealed in June. It's done, over.”

Liverpool signing high expectations as John Terry sends message

Liverpool have now got their hands on a real gem and Reds fans can rightly look to the future with optimism. If they can fulfil their potential, Arne Slot's side could well have secured a rare bargain in modern times.

Capped nine times by England Under-16s, Ngumoha has scored two goals and provided two assists. He was also named player of the tournament when Chelsea's Under-16s team won the domestic championship last October.

Arriving at Anfield, Ngumoha posted a photo of himself at Anfield on Instagram with the message “Delighted to sign for @liverpoolfc. YNWA.”

Despite playing for Chelsea through the age groups, he chose to join Anfield because of Liverpool's proven track record of promoting youngsters into the first team. Trey Nyoni, Jayden Danns and Conor Bradley have been among the Reds' young stars to make the step up in recent months and Ngumoha is now hoping to become the latest player to make the journey.

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After going public with his gesture, the 16-year-old received a three-word message from former Chelsea star and current Academy coach Terry, who said: “(sic) Good luck mate.”

His defection to the north-west is the second exit of a high-profile young star this summer, with Manchester United having recently poached young striker Chido Obi-Martin, who scored 32 goals in 18 games for Arsenal's Under-18s last season.

With United's new number two Ruud van Nistelrooy believed to have played a major role in the player's move, he is expected to make the move official soon and sign professional terms with the Red Devils when he turns 17 in November.

Ngumoha becomes Liverpool's third signing of the summer, joining big stars Giorgi Mamardashvili and Federico Chiesa in agreeing to join Anfield.