The Premier League has become a stage where youthful talent is not just welcomed but relied upon and younger players are undeniably at the forefront as England’s top league evolves.
Even just a few years ago, there may have been some reluctance and hesitation amongst managers to chuck a youngster into the Premier League spotlight but they are no longer seen as a risk, they are now embraced much more and seen as fearless, unpredictable talents to use.
Their youthful vigour and long-term potential make them highly valuable prospects in today’s transfer market, for example, 19 year-old Leny Yoro joined Manchester United last summer in a deal worth around £60m.
This shift has paved the way for record-breaking debuts and players are seemingly younger than ever now. Here are the five youngest debutants in Premier League history.
5. Izzy Brown (West Bromwich Albion) – 16 years, 117 days old
Striker Izzy Brown only ever made one appearance during his time at the Hawthorns but it came in a 3-2 defeat to Wigan Athletic in 2013 as he replaced midfielder Youssouf Molumbu for West Brom.
The Englishman would soon catch the eye of Chelsea who signed the forward in 2013.
Brown spent 8 years at Stamford Bridge but remarkably only made one appearance for the Blues as he became one of the many youngsters caught in the seemingly inevitible cycle of endless loans away from Chelsea.
The attacker retired from professional football at the age of just 26, hanging up his boots following a year-long stint at Preston North End where he failed to make an appearance.
4. Matthew Briggs (Fulham) – 16 years, 68 days old
Another player who unfortunately failed to live up to the hype is former Fulham left-back Matthew Briggs.
Briggs became the Premier League’s youngest-ever player when he was subbed on in the 77th minute for the Cottagers against Middlesborough on the final day of the 2006/07 season.
He is said to have sat his GCSE exams just 24 hours after making English footballing history.
Briggs however didn’t quite reach the levels expected, only making 13 Premier League appearances for the West London side.
The left-back became something of a journeyman, playing for sides up and down the footballing pyramid.
He ended up representing a total of 17 different sides throughout his career, these include clubs such as: Barnet, Watford, Leyton Orient, Colchester United and Chesterfield.
3. Harvey Elliott (Fulham) – 16 years, 30 days old
From one former Fulham youngster to another, Harvey Elliott broke Briggs’ record in 2019 when he was subbed on for the Cottagers, coming on for the last two minutes against Wolves in a 1-0 loss.
It wasn’t long before Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp came calling with the attacking midfielder making the switch to Anfield in the summer of 2019.
Elliot has blossomed into a key player for the Reds, overcoming a horrific ankle injury in 2021 which threatened to derail his development.
Liverpool look set to secure the Premier League title this season and whilst the 22 year-old hasn’t featured quite as much as he would like, he has still come up with some big moments for the champions elect, notably an 87th minute winner away at PSG in the Champions League.
2. Jeremy Monga (Leicester City) – 15 years, 271 days old
The most recent entry on this list is Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga. The 15-year-old was brought on by Leicester boss Ruud Van Nistelrooy, playing the last 15 minutes of his side’s 3-0 home defeat to Newcastle United.
Whilst being somewhat of an unknown entity in the Premier League, Monga is a highly rated young, electric winger and is already reportedly being tracked by a host of top clubs.
The winger has already impressed Van Nistelrooy who said in his post-match press conference:
“Today, we felt it was the moment to bring him on, to let him have his debut. He showed glimpses of his quality at such a young age. Well done to him and his family for this great moment.”
1. Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal) – 15 years, 181 days old
Ethan Nwaneri made his debut in September 2022 at the age of just 15 years old when he was introduced late on in Arsenal’s 3-0 away win over Brentford.
The Englishman has had to show maturity beyond his years this season, heavily featuring for Arsenal this season, mainly having to deputise for Bukayo Saka who has been out injured for large parts of the campaign.
It’s fair to say, that Nwaneri has thrived in the opportunities has been given this year.
The 18-year-old has scored 8 goals in all competitions for Arsenal so far this season, 2 of which have come in the Champions League.
Nwaneri is undeniably one of Europe’s most promising talents and Arsenal were delighted when he signed his professional contract with the club in 2024, fending off interest from the likes of Chelsea.