Rio Ngumoha has to follow a tough Premier League rule that Max Dowman doesn’t have to worry about for another 467 days.
Liverpool’s young star Rio Ngumoha just turned 18 and now has to follow some new Premier League rules, while Max Dowman isn’t affected yet.
With all the buzz around JJ Gabriel possibly leaving Manchester United, fans are more interested than ever in the league’s young talents. Among them, Liverpool’s Ngumoha and Arsenal’s Dowman stand out as some of the brightest young wingers, already showing what they’re capable of at the top level.
When Ngumoha was just 16, he scored a dramatic winning goal against Newcastle, boosting his reputation. Dowman made history as the youngest Premier League scorer ever, netting in a 2-0 win against Everton at just 16 years and 73 days old.
Dowman won’t turn 17 until the end of the year, but Ngumoha, who’s even been called up to England’s squad, celebrated his 18th birthday on August 29. That means new rules now apply to Ngumoha but not to Dowman.
For example, Dowman can’t change in the main dressing room for safety reasons and must use a separate area instead. Ngumoha, as an adult, can now join his Liverpool teammates there like the rest of the squad.
Clubs also need to provide special shower rooms for players under 18, supervised by official staff with proper security checks. Dowman also can’t wear gear with gambling logos or be around alcohol if older players are drinking, though that’s pretty rare.
A new substitution rule starting in 2026/27 affects players 18 and older, like Ngumoha. They have to leave the field quickly at the nearest exit to keep the game moving. If they don’t, the team could be stuck a player short for a minute. Younger players like Dowman are allowed to exit more slowly at a safe spot near the halfway line until they turn 18.
Arsenal’s coach, Mikel Arteta, recently talked about Dowman’s future. He said the club checks his progress every six months and might consider loaning him out to get more first-team experience. But for now, they want him to stay and be part of the squad.
Arteta said, “We want him here for pre-season and to impact the team. We’ll see what’s best for him every six months. Some young players go on loan and do well, others don’t. It depends on the situation — the team, the coach, and how much he plays. Right now, he’s in a great place, so let’s keep him here.”
Both young players have bright futures ahead, and it’s exciting to see how they grow in the Premier League!