Revealed: Top 5 Youngest Premier League Players of All Time

Football has long been dominated by established players. But once in a while, young and exciting talents break through the academy ranks to establish themselves amongst the elites of the game.

1 year ago

It’s even more exciting when these talented yet youthful players go on to lift some big trophies with their parent clubs, creating a piece of history and beautiful memories in the process.

With more and more managers putting their faith in teenage sensations, here are the top 5 youngest premier league players of all time.

1. Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal) -15 Years and 181 Days

Ethan Nwaneri made history as the youngest-ever Premier League player after making a substitute appearance for the Gunners in the 3-0 drubbing of Brentford in 2022.
Coming on in stoppage time in place of Fabio Vieira, the teenage sensation broke the record initially set by Liverpool’s Harvey Elliot (16 years and 30 days). He also smashed Cesc Fabregas’ long-standing record for Arsenal’s youngest Premier League player of all time at 16 years and 24 days.

With manager Mikel Arteta keen to fend off interest in one of the most exciting young talents in Europe, the North London side recently rewarded Ethan with a scholarship contract that will see him train and work at the club for at least the next two seasons.

2. Harvey Elliot (Fulham) -16 Years and 30 Days

Harvey Elliot is one of the best young players in the premier league right now. The teenage sensation made his Premier League debut with Fulham in the 2018/2019 season in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

While the game ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat for The Cottagers, the young Englishman created a piece of history by smashing Matthew Briggs’ record of the youngest-ever Premier League player at the time.

A year after bursting onto the scene, the teenager was already on his way to Anfield after Liverpool secured his signature in 2019.

While he might not be a regular starter for the star-studded Jürgen Klopp’s side, Harvey has delivered every time he’s been called upon, scoring his first premier league goal in the 9-0 thrashing of Bournemouth in 2022.

3. Matthew Briggs (Fulham) -16 Years, 2 Months, 7 Days

Matthew Briggs had just turned 16 when he made his Fulham debut in 2007 in a 3-1 loss to Middlesborough. Despite the initial flashes of talent, Matthew couldn’t hold his place in the Fulham squad and spent the next seasons moving between different clubs.

The English-Guyanese footballer currently plays for Gosport Borough and the Guyana national team, having featured for the likes of Leyton Orient, Peterborough United, Bristol City, Watford, and Miwall in England.

4. Izzy Brown (West Brom) -16 Years, 3 Months, 27 Days

Isaiah Brown wasn’t as convincing when he made his one and only appearance for West Bromwich Albion in 2013 in a 3-2 defeat to Wigan Athletic. But he somehow found his way to Chelsea and, thus, a perfect opportunity to make his mark on the biggest stage.
But finding himself at the hands of a ruthless and ever-demanding Jose Mourinho, the English international couldn’t break into the senior team.

After a series of loans in the Championship and outside England, Brown signed for Preston North End on 22 June 2021. Unfortunately, his recurrent injury problems forced him into early retirement in 2023 after Preston had released him in 2022, a few weeks before the end of the season.

5. Aaron Lennon (Leeds) -16 Years, 4 Months, 7 Days

You may remember him from his time at Tottenham, where he won his first major trophy, the League Cup (now Carabao Cup) in 2008.
But Aaron Lennon’s football career goes back to the early 2000s when he first featured for his hometown club, Leeds United, in 2003.

His senior debut came in a narrow 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, who ultimately signed him for £1 million in 2005.

Lennon made 364 appearances for Spurs, scoring 30 goals across all competitions. He was part of the England national team between 2006 and 2013 and was even named in the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup squads.