Explained: Why Ngumoha doesn’t count as an underage player in Liverpool’s Champions League squad
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Liverpool have officially submitted their squad for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League group stage, including some notable selections and exclusions. The squad, selected by manager Arne Slot, features 22 players eligible for the competition's "List A," which each club must submit by UEFA regulations. One of the youngest and most exciting inclusions is Rio Ngumoha, the 16-year-old winger and attacking midfielder who has rapidly risen through Liverpool’s ranks since joining from Chelsea in summer 2024.
Ngumoha, who made history as Liverpool’s youngest FA Cup starter and youngest Premier League goalscorer, has been recognized with inclusion in this important European squad despite his youth and relative inexperience at senior level. Other young stars like Trey Nyoni are not on List A but qualify for List B, reserved for under-21 players with at least two years of club training.
Liverpool’s Champions League List A comprises 22 players, with a minimum of eight “locally trained” players as per UEFA rules. The squad balances experienced internationals such as
Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Curtis Jones with dynamic midfield additions like Florijan Wirtz, Ryan Gravenberch, and Alexis Mac Allister. The defensive line includes familiar faces like Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson, supplemented by new signing Giovanni Leoni, while Wataru Endo is surprisingly classified as a defender.
Notable absentees from the 25-man limit List A include Stefan Bajcetic, Calvin Ramsay, and Rhys Williams, who will either be excluded from European competition or eligible only under List B rules if possible.
Ngumoha’s inclusion underlines Liverpool’s commitment to integrating youth talent into their senior European campaigns. This move provides the young Englishman valuable experience and signals potential increased first-team opportunities as Liverpool look to progress through the Champions League knockout stages.
PP