Liverpool reject Arsenal's genuine interest in Rio Ngumoha and plan new contract

Liverpool have firmly rebuffed Arsenal’s interest in teenage winger Rio Ngumoha, with the club making clear they have no intention of selling the 18-year-old and are instead pushing to tie him down to a new deal at Anfield.

Arsenal’s interest in Ngumoha is understood to be genuine, according to The Daily Mail, but a move is far from advanced. Liverpool’s position is equally clear: the club view Ngumoha as a future “world-beater” and will not entertain offers. Bayern Munich had also been linked during the summer transfer window before the Gunners emerged as suitors.

Ngumoha joined Liverpool from Chelsea in 2024 and signed a three-year professional contract 12 months ago. He has two years remaining on that deal, and while no formal contract extension talks are currently reported to be underway, Liverpool’s desire to keep him long-term is not in doubt.

The winger has made 35 senior appearances for the club, and manager Andoni Iraola has continued to hand him significant minutes this season. He has already started four games in the current campaign — nearly matching the nine starts he managed across the entirety of last season. One of those came in the Champions League against Atlético Madrid at Anfield, an occasion Ngumoha described with obvious excitement.

“It was crazy,” Ngumoha told Liverpool’s official website. “In the morning when I knew when the gaffer put out the team, I saw my name there. I was like, ‘Yeah, today’s going to be a good day!’ A first start in the Champions League, especially at Anfield and against a good side. To get the three points and just hear the fans — Anfield was roaring, I couldn’t ask for much more.”

He also started Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third-round win over Tottenham, underlining his growing role in Iraola’s plans despite the arrivals of Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz adding competition on the left flank. Ngumoha has shown versatility by operating on the right when required, while Munoz has also impressed in that role — scoring his first Liverpool goal with a strike against Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal’s reported hope that Ngumoha might grow restless over playing time appears difficult to sustain given his current involvement. The player is said to be aware of interest from elsewhere but is happy at Liverpool, giving the club little reason to fear an unsettled situation in the near term.