The Premier League have approved Liverpool’s signing of highly-rated teenage forward Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea.
The final stages of the process were completed on Wednesday after Liverpool passed the league’s five-step review which is standard when a young player wishes to move between two category one academies.
It emerged in July that Ngumoha had decided to leave Chelsea and that Liverpool was his destination of choice.
The England youth international wasn’t able to play for the club until the deal was given the green light.
The 16-year-old attacker, who has penned a normal scholar’s contract, will start off with Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s under-18s squad and could make his debut at home to Blackburn Rovers on September 14.
Compensation between the clubs has yet to be agreed but a six-figure sum is standard for a player of his age and experience to cover training and development costs.
The pathway available for young players at Liverpool is understood to have been key to his decision having seen the opportunities given to the likes of Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley and Trey Nyoni.
Liverpool regard Ngumoha’s decision to join them as a major coup given his talent and potential.
Ngumoha was named player of the tournament when Chelsea Under-16s were crowned national champions last October and in January his progress was rewarded with a debut for Chelsea Under-21s.
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(Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
