CHELSEA could bank up to £6.8million from Rio Ngumoha’s move to Liverpool after a fee was settled at a tribunal.
Ngumoha is seen as one of the biggest talents in English football and he has already dazzled since joining the Reds in 2024.
The 17-year-old has featured 14 times in all competitions under Arne Slot this season and scored his first Premier League goal against Newcastle on his top flight debut last summer.
He netted a stunning winner in stoppage time to secure a 3-2 victory over the Magpies at St James’ Park.
He was just 16 when he linked up with Liverpool, but his tender age meant that Chelsea were entitled to compensation after his departure.
The Professional Football Compensation Committee (PFCC) tribunal ruled that Liverpool should pay an initial £2.8m for Ngumoha.
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But that is set to rise to £6.8m after performance-related add-ons are included.
And if the player is sold by Liverpool at any point, the Blues will be owed 20 per cent of the profit.
The add-ons are said to be related to appearances, contracts and Ngumoha’s international achievements, according to the Athletic.
Ngumoha has been used by Slot in the first team throughout the season despite claims he could go out on loan.
He has made two starts in the Carabao Cup and one in the FA Cup.
The forward has come off the bench a further ten times in the Premier League and Champions League.
He’s played a total of 276 minutes for Liverpool, with his last game coming in the 6-0 win over Qarabag, in which he played 23 minutes.
Slot hailed him as a “special” talent in December and said it was “not normal” for a player so young to have so many minutes already.
The Dutchman said over Christmas: “I think he has the most minutes of all 17-year-olds in the Premier League.
“So that tells you how much playing time he gets, how special that already is for a 17-year-old.”
“That also tells you something about his quality, because it’s not completely normal for a 17-year-old already to have as much playing time as he had.”
Ngumoha has featured for England at U15, U16, U17 and U19 level.
Last season, he became Liverpool’s youngest player to feature in the FA Cup after starting a 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley at the age of 16 years and 135 days.
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