Liverpool’s rising star Rio Ngumoha continues to make strides within the club’s ranks, training with the first team ahead of their Champions League showdown against PSV Eindhoven. Despite his increasing involvement at senior level, the 16-year-old will not feature in the squad for the trip to the Netherlands due to UEFA’s eligibility rules.
Ngumoha, who made headlines as Liverpool’s second-youngest debutant in the FA Cup against Accrington Stanley, has been a regular presence at the AXA Training Centre. On Tuesday, he was once again included in first-team preparations before the squad’s departure. However, when the final 21-man list was announced, his name was missing, not due to performance but strict regulations governing European competition.
UEFA’s registration policy dictates that clubs can name an unlimited number of young players under List B, provided they have been at the club for at least two uninterrupted years. Having only arrived from Chelsea in September 2023, Ngumoha does not meet this requirement. For him to be available, Liverpool would have had to register him under List A, which allows only 25 players. With 24 already listed, there is theoretically space for him in the knockout rounds, though the club is unlikely to make that move at this stage.
Meanwhile, other young players such as Trey Nyoni and Amara Nallo, who also joined Liverpool in 2023, were included in List A and will be eligible for selection against PSV. Unlike Ngumoha, the club opted to register them, reinforcing the depth of young talent available to manager Arne Slot for this fixture.
Ngumoha has been making steady progress within Liverpool’s academy, featuring prominently for Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s U18 side while also gaining experience in the UEFA Youth League and U21 squad. His consistent exposure to first-team training reflects the club’s belief in his future potential. While he will not be part of the squad for this European tie, his development remains a priority, and his continued integration into senior sessions suggests his time will come sooner rather than later.
