After featuring in only two competitive first-team matches for Liverpool, Rio Ngumoha has been included in the Reds’ squad for this season’s Champions League.
On Wednesday evening, Arne Slot revealed the 22-man squad for the group stage, with Federico Chiesa notably left out due to restrictions on the number of ‘non-homegrown’ players allowed.
Although Ngumoha is English and just turned 17, he occupies one of those ‘non-homegrown’ spots.
Why isn’t Ngumoha considered an underage player by UEFA?
According to UEFA.com, clubs can register a ‘List B’ of players born on or after January 1, 2004, only if they have been continuously with the club for two years, or for a total of three consecutive years with no more than one loan spell to another club within the same association lasting no longer than one year.
Players aged 16 can be included if they have been registered with the club uninterrupted for the previous two years.
Ngumoha joined Liverpool from Chelsea’s academy just a year ago, which means he doesn’t qualify for ‘List B’. This list is separate from the main squad—where a maximum of 25 players can be registered—and has no cap on numbers.
As a result, for Arne Slot to register Ngumoha for Liverpool’s Champions League matches through January, the teenager had to be named in the main squad and couldn’t be counted among the required minimum of eight ‘locally-trained’ players.
A strong vote of confidence from Slot
While it’s unfortunate for Chiesa to miss out, Slot’s decision highlights the trust he has in Ngumoha and his commitment to giving the young player Champions League experience despite his limited top-level exposure.
Ngumoha’s impressive performance coming off the bench against Newcastle last week demonstrated his readiness for big occasions, showing no fear—a mindset that will benefit him if he gets minutes in Europe’s elite competition in the coming months.
Imagine if the player who debuted against Accrington Stanley in January ends up scoring a winning goal against Real Madrid before the year is out!
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