There is an adage in football that holds if a player is good enough, then they are old enough. However, it remains a rare sight to see young teens plying their trade at senior level in the Premier League, such is the physicality and pace of the competition.
Nevertheless, precocious talents do emerge from time to time, with many going on to forge fairly respectable careers for themselves in the game.
So who are the youngest players to play in the Premier League and what about the youngest goalscorers? GOAL brings you everything you need to know.
Who is the youngest Premier League player in history?
Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest player to play in the Premier League at 15 years and 181 days when he came on for Arsenal against Brentford on September 18, 2022. Nwaneri wrote his name into the history books when he replaced Fabio Vieira in injury time of the game.
Prior to that, the youngest player to make an appearance in the league had been Harvey Elliott, who made history on May 4, 2019, playing for Fulham against Wolves aged just 16 years and 30 days.
You can see a list of the youngest players to play in the Premier League in the table below.
Player | Age | Fixture | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
Ethan Nwaneri | 15 years & 181 days | Brentford vs Arsenal | September 18, 2022 |
Harvey Elliott | 16 years & 30 days | Wolves vs Fulham | May 4, 2019 |
Matthew Briggs | 16 years & 68 days | Middlesbrough vs Fulham | May 13, 2007 |
Izzy Brown | 16 years & 117 days | West Brom vs Wigan | May 4, 2013 |
Aaron Lennon | 16 years & 129 days | Tottenham vs Leeds United | August 23, 2003 |
GettyYoungest Premier League goalscorers
James Vaughan holds the record for youngest player to score in the Premier League, having struck the back of the net for Everton against Crystal Palace at the age of 16 and 270 days.
Player | Age | Date | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
James Vaughan | 16 years 270 days | April 10, 2005 | Everton vs Crystal Palace |
James Milner | 16 years 256 days | December 26, 2002 | Leeds United vs Sunderland |
Wayne Rooney | 16 years 360 days | October 19, 2002 | Everton vs Arsenal |
Cesc Fabregas | 17 years 113 days | August 25, 2004 | Arsenal vs Blackburn |
Michael Owen | 17 years 143 days | May 6, 1997 | Liverpool vs Wimbledon |
Before Vaughan, the record was held by James Milner, who scored for Leeds United against Sunderland in 2002 at the age of 16 and 356 days.
Wayne Rooney was just 16 years and 360 days old when he announced himself with a sensational goal for Everton against Arsenal in the same season. Michael Owen was 17 years and 143 days old when he struck for Liverpool against Wimbledon in May 1997.