Liverpool and Chelsea are in a fierce legal battle over teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha after his move last year.
Liverpool and Chelsea are locked in a legal dispute over the transfer of 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who left Chelsea’s academy for Anfield last July. The teenager, who scored a dramatic winner on his Premier League debut at St James’ Park, turns 17 on Friday and can now sign his first professional contract.
No fee has been agreed between the clubs, meaning the case will go before the Premier League’s compensation committee. Chelsea are pushing for a significant sum to deter rivals from poaching their academy talents.
Ngumoha’s progress since leaving Stamford Bridge, including his debut goal, is expected to strengthen Chelsea’s argument, although Liverpool’s lawyers may argue that post-transfer development should not influence the fee.
The dispute highlights growing tensions between top clubs aggressively targeting each other’s youth players—a practice that has become common in recent years.