Liverpool’s teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha is generating excitement after impressing in pre-season, but the 16-year-old faces an unusual restriction: he won’t be allowed in the first-team dressing room on matchdays.
FA guidelines recommend that players under 18 should not change alongside adults to safeguard minors, meaning Ngumoha, despite his talent, must prepare separately from his senior teammates. The rule is advisory but widely observed across UK clubs.
A similar case arose at Arsenal, where Mikel Arteta called the rule “unbelievable” when Ethan Nwaneri, also under 18, was forced to change away from the first team despite making senior appearances.
Ngumoha, who joined Liverpool from Chelsea last year, is expected to feature more prominently this season. Still, he’ll have to navigate this quirk of youth football regulations even as he continues his rapid rise within the squad.
