Liverpool wonderkid plays down Arsenal transfer talk, cites contract progress

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Rio Ngumoha has moved to dampen talk of a switch to Arsenal, insisting his focus remains on Liverpool after Arsenal were reported to be among the clubs admiring the 18 year old winger.

Ngumoha burst onto the scene at Anfield in January 2025, becoming the club's youngest ever player to feature in the FA Cup during a 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley at just 16 years old. He has since become a regular fixture under Andoni Iraola, featuring in five of Liverpool's opening seven league matches this season as well as starting all three of the club's cup fixtures against Atletico Madrid, LASK and Tottenham.

His form has not gone unnoticed elsewhere. Bundesliga sides Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig were said to be monitoring the teenager's situation over the summer, while The Athletic's David Ornstein reported last month that Ngumoha was well liked at the Emirates, with Arsenal said to be scouring the market for attacking reinforcements.

Ngumoha points to contract progress

Speaking after Liverpool's comeback win over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, Ngumoha was asked directly about his future and gave little indication that a move was on his mind.

'To be fair, that is all with my agent now,' he told reporters. 'I think it is all going well. I am not too sure. I just let my football do the talking at the end of the day. I enjoy playing, and all of that stuff is in the back of my mind really. I just play for the club, and hopefully I can carry on doing well.'

Ngumoha's current contract at Anfield runs until June 2028, meaning Liverpool are under no immediate pressure to sell or renegotiate, though reports suggest talks over an extension are already underway.

Switching flanks and learning from Saka

The arrivals of Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz, along with Mohamed Salah's departure, have pushed Ngumoha from his more familiar left wing over to the right for much of this campaign, a change he says he has embraced.

'I am enjoying the challenge and to be able to play off both sides is important,' he said. 'Do I have a favourite position? No, not anymore. I am getting to grips with the right wing now, and I am liking it. It gives me a bit more unpredictability.'

Ngumoha also credited his time with England's senior setup, where he picked the brains of Anthony Gordon and Arsenal's Bukayo Saka during the recent Nations League camp under Thomas Tuchel. 'Watching the likes of Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka, I took on board some of the stuff they told me, and it's really helpful,' he said.

For now, Ngumoha's words suggest any Arsenal interest remains speculative rather than advanced, with the player himself stressing that his representatives are handling those conversations while he concentrates on his development at Anfield.