“I’m Disappointed We Missed Out” — John Terry Breaks Silence on Chelsea Wonderkid Rio Ngumoha’s Move to Liverpool

Chelsea legend John Terry has admitted he feels “gutted” that the club allowed young talent Rio Ngumoha to slip away to Liverpool — especially after the teenager announced himself in dramatic fashion with a match-winning goal against Newcastle United.

Ngumoha, just 16 years old, was once regarded as one of the brightest stars in Chelsea’s youth ranks. He joined the academy at Cobham when he was only eight years old and quickly gained a reputation for his skill, creativity, and fearless approach on the pitch. However, in 2024, the winger chose to leave Stamford Bridge behind and join Liverpool’s academy setup, a move that sparked frustration inside Chelsea.

Reports at the time suggested that the Blues were so unhappy with the deal that they even decided to ban Liverpool scouts from visiting their academy to prevent a repeat of such departures.

Terry’s Honest Reaction

Speaking about the youngster’s progress, Terry confessed that while he remains in touch with Ngumoha, he cannot hide his disappointment over losing such a rare talent.

“He is a very ambitious boy who wanted to play first-team football and believed that was his pathway into Liverpool’s first team,” Terry explained. “I’m still in contact with him, but he’s just a fantastic player.”

The former Chelsea captain revealed how vital Ngumoha was to his age group during his time at the club:

“We had a really good Under-14 team and he was a big part of that. You don’t see too many players that are exciting like him anymore. There’s going to be many more over the years that as an academy you lose, but there’s always one that you think, ‘I’m a bit gutted we missed out on that one.’”

The Kind of Player Chelsea Missed

Ngumoha has already shown glimpses of why Liverpool were so keen to bring him in. Described by Terry as confident, fearless, and full of personality, he has the type of flair that can lift fans out of their seats.

“He was a very confident player, taking the ball on the back foot, lots of personality, very confident in himself,” Terry said.

The Chelsea icon even went as far as comparing Ngumoha’s playing style to that of past greats like Eden Hazard and Joe Cole — players known for their ability to entertain and unlock defences.

“Since the likes of Hazard and Joe Cole and those types of players that are very confident and get the fans off their seat as well…I think football’s become a little bit stale and a little bit tactical over the last four or five years,” he added.

A Wider Issue for Chelsea’s Academy?

Chelsea’s academy has long been one of the most productive in English football, producing stars such as Mason Mount, Reece James, and more recently Cole Palmer, who was signed from Manchester City. But Ngumoha’s departure is another reminder of the challenges modern clubs face in keeping hold of their most promising youngsters.

With Liverpool offering what appeared to be a clearer pathway to first-team minutes, the teenager decided to take a bold risk — one that already looks to be paying off after his decisive strike against Newcastle.

For Chelsea, it’s a frustrating loss. While the Blues have invested heavily in their youth development, cases like Ngumoha’s show that money and facilities alone cannot always keep ambitious players tied down when rival clubs promise faster routes to stardom.

Ngumoha’s early impact at Liverpool suggests he could follow in the footsteps of other breakout academy stars who made a name for themselves in the Premier League before their 20th birthday. The Reds will now look to carefully develop him, ensuring he doesn’t burn out under the pressure of early hype.