Premier League Young Guns: The 5 Youngest Premier League Debutants
The 5 Youngest Debutants in Premier League History
Young players who impress club scouts often get the opportunity to play in the Premier League - from Wayne Rooney to James Vaughan.
But who are the youngest-ever debutants in Premier League history? Read on to find out!
Young Premier League football star Ethan Nwaneri
Premier League clubs spend a lot of money strengthening their respective squads every transfer window, but there is still a pathway to the first-team for academy graduates each year.
It’s not rare to see young players get opportunities after proving themselves with the U18s, but some develop even faster and at a younger age - Jude Bellingham made his Birmingham City debut at 16, and we remember Jack Wilshere, James Vaughan, Wayne Rooney and Jack Rodwell bursting onto the scene at the same age.
Even last season, Manchester City had 17-year-old Rico Lewis making a successful breakthrough at right-back, even keeping Kyle Walker on the bench at times.
Manchester United had 18-year-old Alejandro Garnacho making waves on the left flank, having a hand in 10 goals from 11 starts.
Liverpool had 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic at defensive midfield. And Chelsea had 18-year-old Lewis Hall getting opportunities over Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella at left-back.
But who are the youngest-ever Premier League debutants? The Sporting Blog tells all.
5. Aaron Lennon (16 years, 4 months, 7 days)
First played for Leeds United in the Premier League
Joined Tottenham in 2005
He retired from professional football in 2022
It’s nearly twenty years since Lennon made his debut for Leeds United in the Premier League - Leeds were 2-1 down to Tottenham Hotspur on August 23, 2003.
Lennon hadn’t long turned 16 but came off the bench in the 77th minute for Mark Viduka. He didn’t stir a comeback, however, as Spurs ran out winners at White Hart Lane.
Lennon went on to make 43 appearances in all competitions for Leeds before ironically joining Tottenham in 2005. He scored 30 goals with 79 assists from 364 games in North London until his departure in 2015.
The England international would play for Burnley (2018 - 2020) (2021/22) and Kayserispor (2020/21) before retiring from professional football in 2022.
Being a young debutant doesn’t guarantee a prosperous career, but Lennon was one of the best wingers in the Premier League for a time.
4. Izzy Brown (16 years, 3 months, 27 days)
First played for West Bromwich Albion
He struggled with various illnesses and injuries
He retired at the age of 26
It’s been more than 10 years since Brown made his debut for West Bromwich Albion, coming off the bench in their 3-2 defeat to Wigan Athletic on May 4, 2013.
Brown was an unused substitute a month earlier when West Brom lost 2-1 to Arsenal but was finally given a chance near the end of the season.
He replaced Youssouf Mulumbu in the 86th minute at the Hawthorns but wouldn’t play for Albion again as Chelsea poached him that summer.
He would spend eight years at Stamford Bridge, making only one senior appearance and being loaned out to Vitesse, Rotherham United, Huddersfield Town, Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds United, Luton Town and Sheffield Wednesday before leaving to join Preston North End on a permanent deal.
Brown spent barely a year at Preston and left without an appearance to his name.
He would retire in 2023 after suffering hand, foot and mouth disease, a nervous system problem and a double Achilles surgery.
Once tipped to play for England by José Mourinho, Brown retired at the age of 26.
3. Matthew Briggs (16 years, 2 months, 7 days)
He played for Fulham in their 3-1 defeat to Middlesborough in May 2007
During his career, he was loaned out to Peterborough, Bristol City and more
He struggled with anxiety
Briggs is a lesser-known player from the list, but he was tipped for big things after making his debut just two months after turning 16.
He played in Fulham’s 3-1 defeat to Middlesbrough on May 13, 2007, coming off the bench for Moritz Volz in the 77th minute.
Briggs struggled to kick on after his debut due to crippling anxiety, however.
He failed to make a second senior appearance for Fulham in 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10 while only managing to play in four games the following campaign.
Briggs barely made the bench in 2010/11 but seemed to turn things around the following campaign with 15 appearances in 2011/12 while being in the squad most weeks.
But after making just eight appearances in the first half of the 2012/13 campaign, Briggs was loaned out to Peterborough for a few months.
He fell out of favour the next season, so stints at Bristol City (2012) and Watford (2013) followed before he was sold to Millwall in 2014 – he made 30 appearances for Fulham.
Briggs had a nomadic career after leaving Fulham, falling further down the leagues while stopping playing to do regular work.
He credits football for saving him but concedes the hype train put unfair expectations on him at a young age.
2. Harvey Elliot (16 years, 1 month)
He started his professional career at Fulham
He made three senior appearances in 2018/19
66 appearances, six goals and four assists with Liverpool United
Elliot is the most recognisable name after Lennon on the list and looks to have a bright future, so it wasn’t a mistake from Liverpool to hand him his league debut just one month after turning 16.
The England U21 international began his professional career at Fulham and became the second youngest player to play in the Premier League when he featured against the Wolverhampton Wanderers on May 4, 2019.
Elliot had been an unused substitute for three league outings but was finally introduced from the bench in the 88th minute as Fulham lost 1-0 to Wolves.
He would make a second consecutive substitute appearance in the Cottagers’ 4-0 defeat to Newcastle United days later.
Elliot made three senior appearances in 2018/19 but wouldn’t add to his tally before Liverpool snapped him up.
The attacking-midfielder joined the Reds in the summer of 2019 and has gone on to make 66 appearances in all competitions, scoring six goals with four assists.
Elliot won the U21 European Championship with England this summer, so his future looks bright.
1. Ethan Nwaneri (15 years, 5 months, 28 days)
The youngest-ever Premier League debutant
He played in Arsenal’s 3-0 win against Brentford in September 2022
Faces stiff competition for a starting place
Nwaneri is the youngest player to make his Premier League debut, as he wasn’t even 16 before Arsenal threw him into the mix.
The England U17 international didn’t make the matchday squad in any senior game for the Gunners in 2022/23 except their 3-0 win over Brentford on September 18, 2022.
He came off the bench in injury time to break the record but hasn’t featured for Arsenal since.
Nwaneri, who was a regular for the U18s and reserve team, is an attacking-midfielder but has stiff competition from Martin Ødegaard and Emile Smith Rowe for a starting place.
Time will tell how much he’ll feature under Mikel Arteta in 2023/24, but it’s a good thing that he’s already in the reserves at his young age.
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