why Rio Ngumoha is not considered an under‑age player (eligible for List B) in Liverpool’s Champions League squad:
After making just two competitive first-team appearances for Liverpool, Rio Ngumoha has been included in the club’s squad for this season’s Champions League.
On Wednesday evening, Arne Slot unveiled a 22-man squad list for the group stage of the tournament. Notably, Federico Chiesa was left out, mainly due to restrictions on the number of non-homegrown players allowed.
Even though Ngumoha is English and only recently turned 17, he still had to take up one of those limited non-homegrown spots.
Why isn’t Ngumoha counted as an underage player?
According to UEFA rules, clubs can submit a separate “List B” for younger players born on or after January 1, 2004—but only if they’ve been at the club for an uninterrupted two-year period, or for three consecutive years with only one short-term domestic loan.
For 16-year-olds, they must have been continuously registered with the club for two years to be eligible.
Since Ngumoha joined Liverpool from Chelsea only a year ago, he doesn’t meet these requirements. That means he can’t go on List B, which is separate from the main 25-man squad and doesn’t have any player limits.
As a result, Slot had to name him in the main squad (List A)—even though Ngumoha doesn’t yet qualify as one of the required eight homegrown players.
Slot shows strong belief in Ngumoha
Although it’s unfortunate for Chiesa to miss out, it reflects how much Slot believes in Ngumoha and his potential. Slot clearly sees something special, giving the teenager a chance in Europe’s biggest club competition, even with his limited top-level experience.
Ngumoha has already shown he can handle pressure—his performance off the bench against Newcastle last week was a great example. Rather than shying away from the spotlight, he seems to thrive in it—something that will serve him well if he features in the Champions League in the coming months.
Imagine the story: from making his debut against Accrington Stanley in January to scoring the winner against Real Madrid before the year ends.
