John Terry compares Liverpool wonderkid Rio Ngumoha to 2 Chelsea legends | Football

Could Rio Ngumoha replicate these Premier League icons? (Picture: Getty Images)

Rio Ngumoha was Liverpool’s hero because of his late winner against Newcastle on Monday night and John Terry has compared his thrilling variety of play to 2 of his former Chelsea teammates.

At just 16 years old, the forward got here off the bench late in the sport at St James’ Park and produced an injury time strike which saw the Reds win 3-2.

It was an excellent game as Liverpool took a two-goal lead and looked very comfortable with the Magpies all the way down to 10 men because of an Anthony Gordon red card.

Nonetheless, the house team were very impressive as they battled back to be level, only to see Ngumoha spoil their evening.

The teenage talent only joined Liverpool last yr after being brought up within the Chelsea academy, where Terry was his coach for a few of his time in west London.

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The previous England and Blues captain says the young star is a rare breed nowadays, comparing him to the exciting attacking talents of Eden Hazard and Joe Cole.

‘You don’t see too many players which are exciting like him anymore,’ Terry told The Sun.

Chelsea U21 v Colchester United U21: English Premier League Cup
Ngumoha was very highly rated at Chelsea (Picture: Getty Images)

‘There’s going to be many more over time that as an academy you lose, but there’s at all times one which you’re thinking that, “I’m a bit gutted we missed out on that one.”

‘He was a really confident player, taking the ball on the back foot, a number of personality, very confident in himself.

‘Because the likes of [Eden] Hazard and Joe Cole and people sorts of players which are very confident and get the fans off their seat as well… I believe football’s grow to be a little bit bit stale and a little bit bit form of tactical over the past 4 or five years.’

Newcastle United v Liverpool - Premier League
Ngumoha broke Newcastle hearts along with his injury time winner (Picture: Getty Images)

Of the winger he coached at Under-14 level, Terry added: ‘I’m still involved with him, but he’s only a improbable player.’

Ngumoha made his Premier League debut when he got here on at St James’ Park and have become the youngest scorer in Liverpool’s history.

He can be now the fourth-youngest scorer in Premier League history(16y 361d), behind James Vaughan (16y 270d), James Milner (16y 356d) and Wayne Rooney (16y 360d).

Why Rio Ngumoha left Chelsea

Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, 25th August 2025. Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool celebrates with manager Arne Slot after the Newcastle United vs Liverpool Premier League match at St. James' Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Picture credit should read: Nigel Roddis / Sportimage
Rio Ngumoha celebrated with Liverpool manager Arne Slot after his astonishing Premier League debut (Credits: Sportimage)

While Chelsea’s Cobham academy has produced quite a lot of gems over the course of the last decade, the route into the primary team has been removed from straightforward.

Quite a lot of potential stars have departed searching for regular senior football, while even those that have made the breakthrough have been sold as a consequence of the PSR advantages.

Based on The Athletic on the time of his departure, Ngumoha was said to have felt that Liverpool would offer him a rather more realistic likelihood of featuring within the Premier League with the likes of Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley and Trey Nyoni having been entrusted by Slot and his predecessor Jurgen Klopp.

Having didn’t agree a contract, Chelsea were powerless to stop the England Under-17 international from leaving and were well aware they could have let a possible superstar slip through their grasp.

‘This boy is and will probably be a top player,’ said former Blues skipper John Terry on the time of Ngumoha’s move from Stamford Bridge to Anfield.

Indeed, the BBC report that so incensed were Chelsea by Ngumoha’s exit that they barred Liverpool scouts from attending their youth team matches.

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