Liverpool in talks over new Rio Ngumoha contract after Villarreal win
The 18-year-old supplied two assists in the 4-3 Champions League victory, becoming Liverpool’s youngest assist provider in the competition.
Liverpool are negotiating a long-term deal with Rio Ngumoha, according to transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano, following the winger’s two-assist display in a 4-3 Champions League win over Villarreal at Anfield.
In an update posted on X on October 21, 2026, Romano said discussions were continuing and that Liverpool wanted Ngumoha to have a major role in the club’s future. He said Liverpool had ruled out selling the teenager during the summer despite reported interest from Bayern Munich and other European clubs.
Ngumoha set Liverpool’s record as the youngest player to register a Champions League assist, aged 18 years and 52 days. His first of the match was a chipped pass that Ronald Araujo converted to level the score before halftime.
Villarreal had taken a two-goal lead with goals from Georges Mikautadze and Sergi Cardona. Alexis Mac Allister began Liverpool’s recovery by heading in Kostas Tsimikas’s corner before Araujo equalized.
After halftime, Ngumoha beat Cardona and set up Mac Allister to give Liverpool the lead. Florian Wirtz then scored their fourth goal, while Tani Oluwaseyi’s late reply left the final score at 4-3. The result gave Liverpool a third successive Champions League win.
