Premier League wonderkid tipped to have better career than Yan Diomande

Liverpool starlet Rio Ngumoha has been tipped to eclipse Yan Diomande on the road to superstardom.

The 17-year-old’s stock has constantly risen since he enjoyed an unforgettable Premier League debut against Newcastle last August.

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Ngumoha scored what proved to be the winner in the tenth minute of stoppage time in the second half, making him the youngest goalscorer in club history at 16 years old.

The whiz-kid rewrote Liverpool’s record books less than a month later when he became the club’s youngest-ever player to feature in the Champions League.

Ngumoha capped off his debut season of dreams by earning a call-up to England’s pre-World Cup camp, as several of the stars who made the 26-man squad did not link up until later due to their lengthy seasons.

Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel chose to let Ngumoha loose in the friendly against New Zealand and he certainly caught the eye, earning player of the match honours for his second half display.

In fact, talkSPORT’s legendary broadcaster Adrian Durham labelled Ngumoha England’s ‘best right winger’, which was a bold verdict given the teen predominantly featured on the left flank for Liverpool.

Ngumoha will be ‘an absolute sensation’

Regardless, Ngumoha’s bright displays had Peterborough United chairman and Liverpool fan Darragh MacAnthony waxing lyrical about his potential on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan.

“He (Ngumoha) will be a sensation this year,” MacAnthony said.

“I’ll make a prediction that he’ll win Young Player of the Year in the Premier League, without a doubt.

“I’m probably more confident because of him and because he can play left and right side.”

But MacAnthony wasn’t done there when it came to predicting Ngumoha’s future.

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In the next breath, he boldly claimed Ngumoha would enjoy a ‘better career’ than RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande.

Diomande is poised to join Real Madrid this summer, but the deal still has some final details to iron out.

Although Diomande is likely to command a transfer fee in the region of nine figures, MacAnthony still believes Ngumoha will prove to be superior.

“You talk about Diomande and the money that’s been talked around him, I’d even debate and argue that Rio will have a better career than him, in my opinion,” MacAnthony said.

“I think he’s going to be an absolute sensation.”

Give me Moha

The 2026/27 campaign is shaping up as a major one for Ngumoha, especially given the Mohamed Salah-sized hole on the right wing.

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Salah chose to leave the Reds at the end of last season, bringing the curtain down on his legendary Anfield career which included over 250 goals and seven trophies.

Liverpool have already taken steps to address their shallow depth in the attacking areas earlier this window, signing Spain international Victor Munoz from Osasuna.

But with a few weeks remaining before the window slams shut, there may be more major incomings at Anfield.