Rio Ngumoha wrote his name into Liverpool's record books on Monday night, when he became the youngest goalscorer in the club's 133-year history, at the age of only 16 years and 361 days.
Just 48 hours after another teenager, 15-year-old Max Dowman, impressed on his Premier League debut for Arsenal by earning his side a penalty, Ngumoha went one better by finding the net himself.
Ngumoha's clinical finish in the 10th minute of stoppage time - set up by Dominik Szoboszlai dummying a Mohamed Salah pass - ensured Liverpool beat Newcastle United 3-2 at St James' Park, having previously let a two-goal lead slip to 2-2.
Watch Ngumoha's winner v Newcastle
16-year-old Rio Ngumoha, Liverpool's newest hero! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/qwmUpIBHrI
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 25, 2025
Ngumoha had only come on as a substitute for Cody Gakpo four minutes earlier, but while his instant impact may have surprised some of the TV audience watching a classic Premier League match, Liverpool fans certainly had prior warning of what he could do.
The excitement about Ngumoha's prodigious talent had increased over the summer, in the wake of his pre-season performances.
The lively left-sided forward scored a stunning opener and assisted his side's second goal for Darwin Nunez, both inside the first five minutes, as the Premier League champions beat Athletic Bilbao 4-1 in a friendly at Anfield.
Watch Ngumoha's goal v Athletic Bilbao
Opening the scoring in style 💫 pic.twitter.com/YwznENm6Cn
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 4, 2025
Ngumoha's showing was the talk of the Liverpool supporters and it followed another assist and goal on the club's pre-season tour of Asia, against AC Milan and Yokohama F. Marinos respectively.
The England Under-17 international is now in his second season at Liverpool, having joined them from Chelsea's academy in September 2024.
In his first campaign with the Reds, he featured for the Under-18s - scoring against his former club in the Premier League Cup - as well as playing for the Under-21 side.
Ngumoha scored two Premier League 2 goals last season, both in a 2-2 draw away to Aston Villa.
Slot gave Ngumoha his first-team debut in January 2025 when he started against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup.
That was his only competitive appearance for the club at senior level until he came on as a substitute at St James' Park to make his Premier League debut in stunning style.
Watch Ngumoha's post-match interview with Liverpool
Rio's reaction to a special moment 🥰 pic.twitter.com/DDhN0V6R5S
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 26, 2025
His goal made him the fourth-youngest scorer in the competition's history, behind only James Vaughan, James Milner and Wayne Rooney.
Ngumoha was, in fact, only one day older than Rooney when he scored his iconic first goal.
Youngest Premier League goalscorers
| Player | Age | Date | Team | Opp. |
| James Vaughan | 16y 270d | 10/04/05 | Everton | Crystal Palace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Milner | 16y 356d | 26/12/02 | Leeds | Sunderland |
| Wayne Rooney | 16y 360d | 19/10/02 | Everton | Arsenal |
| Rio Ngumoha | 16y 361d | 25/08/25 | Liverpool | Newcastle |
| Cesc Fabregas | 17y 113d | 25/08/04 | Arsenal | Blackburn |
| Michael Owen | 17y 143d | 06/05/97 | Liverpool | Wimbledon |
| Andy Turner | 17y 166d | 05/09/92 | Spurs | Everton |
| Federico Macheda | 17y 226d | 05/04/09 | Man Utd | Aston Villa |
| Lewis Miley | 17y 229d | 16/12/23 | Newcastle | Fulham |
| Ethan Nwaneri | 17y 247d | 23/11/24 | Arsenal | Nott'm Forest |
Teenage fan club
Dowman seems well placed to join Ngumoha in that top 10 above and even surpass Vaughan as the Premier League's youngest-ever goalscorer.
Aged 15 years and 235 days on his debut, the Arsenal prodigy is already the Premier League's second-youngest player, behind only his team-mate Ethan Nwaneri by 54 days.
In the meantime, Dowman has added to the widespread praise and admiration for Ngumoha by posting "the best @rio_ngumoha" on his Instagram account.