Chelsea lost Ngumoh for nothing: there is already a replacement in the academy.

According to The Sun: The last victory of Rio Ngumoh over Newcastle was a serious blow for Chelsea: not only regarding the two points gained but also because the team lost a player for free.

But fans shouldn’t be upset, as the club's academy already has a promising young talent who may even be better.

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Prospects of Ryan Kavuma-McQueen

Ryan Kavuma-McQueen has emerged as a fan favorite in Cobham, just as Ngumoh was before his transfer to Liverpool.

Chelsea managed to avoid serious competition for Kavuma-McQueen, although there was interest from other Premier League clubs and teams abroad. Even at just 16 years old, he is already impressing with his performance in the U21 youth team.

Kavuma-McQueen has an impressive record: 10 goals and 4 assists in 23 matches at the U18 and Premier League 2 levels.

By comparison, Rio Ngumoh played 27 matches for Chelsea and Liverpool, scoring 3 goals and making the same number of assists in over 600 minutes of play.

It is worth noting that Ngumoh already has his goal in the Premier League, while Kavuma-McQueen has yet to debut in the top division.

His game in Cobham is marked by his striking technique, as he often shoots into the corners of the goal. In a match against Manchester City U21, he nearly scored from long distance, becoming one of the best players on the field.

A fantastic effort from Ryan Kavuma-McQueen was the best chance of the game so far and nearly opened the U21s’ account for the season!

— The Chelsea Spot (@TheChelseaSpot) August 18, 2025

Why has Kavuma-McQueen not yet made it to the Premier League?

He is quick both with and without the ball, and makes smart decisions on the field. However, he needs to improve his physical condition for the role of winger in the Premier League. He showed his courage in a match against Bromley from League Two, scoring two goals in a match against Preston.

Although statistics cannot capture the whole picture, they still provide an idea of the quality of both players, especially considering Kavuma-McQueen's younger age — he was born on January 1, 2009.

One can’t help but ask: why hasn’t Kavuma-McQueen debuted in the Premier League yet if he is so talented? This is related to the club's strategy regarding young players; Chelsea seeks to avoid mistakes with promising talents, which have already occurred in the past with Ngumoh.

Requests for Kavuma-McQueen have already arrived from clubs like Liverpool and Barcelona. However, Chelsea managed to sign a two-year scholarship contract with him, which was recently announced along with other talents from the academy.

Kavuma-McQueen is expected to continue delighting fans on the U21 team this season, and he should be kept on the radar if Chelsea needs a left winger at any moment during the season.

Kavuma-McQueen, who is just starting his career in professional football, is already attracting attention for his extraordinary skills on the field. His serious approach to training and willingness to learn could play a key role in his further development. If his progress continues, he has every chance of becoming an important part of Chelsea in the near future.