Rio Ngumoha has been at the centre of a bitter transfer dispute(Image: George Wood, Getty Images)

Liverpool have been instructed to hand over £2.8million to Chelsea following a tribunal's ruling on the acquisition of Rio Ngumoha.

The 17-year-old striker moved to Liverpool in September 2024 after departing Chelsea's youth setup, triggering the Blues' right to compensation.

Chelsea were said to be incandescent when Ngumoha opted for Liverpool, having recognised his exceptional ability and tabled multiple contract proposals to retain his services. His choice to reject their advances and relocate to Merseyside has further strained relations between the two Premier League powerhouses.

Rio Ngumoha joined Liverpool after leaving Chelsea's academy(Image: Ed Sykes/Getty Images)

JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page

Reports suggest that Chelsea responded to Ngumoha's exit by barring Liverpool's youth scouts from attending academy fixtures.

He was just 16 when he made the controversial switch to the Reds, leading to a Professional Football Compensation Committee (PFCC) hearing.

The tribunal was required to establish the compensation owed to Chelsea for nurturing Ngumoha's development. According to The...