Chelsea Football Club has banned scouts from Manchester United and Liverpool from attending any of the club’s youth matches this season.
This follows the controversial transfer of 16-year-old sensation Rio Ngumoha to Liverpool during the 2024 summer window. According to reports from the Daily Mail, Chelsea denied accreditation requests from Liverpool scouts in response to the Reds successfully securing Ngumoha’s signature. Manchester United scouts faced a similar ban after attempting to recruit the promising England youth international.
In a possible escalation, Liverpool is rumored to be considering a reciprocal move by blocking Chelsea scouts from attending their youth matches at the AXA Training Centre. However, sources close to Anfield have downplayed the likelihood of any serious fallout from the ban.
Chelsea’s decision raises questions about compliance with the Premier League’s Youth Development Rule 247. This regulation mandates that clubs allow scouts from rival teams to observe youth matches, provided proper accreditation and identification are submitted beforehand.
Ngumoha’s transfer to Liverpool is said to have been influenced by his family, who believe the player has a clearer path to the first team at the Merseyside club. Liverpool’s recent track record of integrating young talents into their senior squad was reportedly a major factor in the decision.
