The Premier League has witnessed numerous teenagers making their professional debuts over the years. But a select few stand out for breaking onto the scene at remarkably young ages. These footballers have earned their place in history by stepping onto the pitch while still in their mid-teens, showcasing exceptional talent that convinced their managers to give them opportunities at the highest level.
From Ethan Nwaneri’s record-breaking appearance at just 15 to established stars who began their journeys as teenagers, these players represent some of the most precocious talents in English football history. Our idea for today is to go through the youngest players to play in the Premier League, see how debut games have gone, and determine where they are now.
Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal) – 15 Years, 181 Days Old
Ethan Nwaneri created history when he stepped onto the field for Arsenal against Brentford on September 19, 2022, becoming the youngest player ever to appear in the Premier League at the astonishing age of 15 years and 181 days. The teenager’s debut came in the closing moments of Arsenal’s comfortable 3-0 victory at the Gtech Community Stadium, with manager Mikel Arteta showing remarkable faith in the youngster’s abilities.
Nwaneri’s appearance was particularly notable as he was younger than Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium itself, having been born in 2007. This milestone also made him the youngest player to represent Arsenal in any competition, surpassing previous record holders Cesc Fàbregas (16 years, 177 days) and Jack Wilshere (16 years, 256 days).
Since his historic debut, Nwaneri has continued his development within Arsenal’s youth setup while making occasional appearances for the first team. The club has carefully managed his progress, balancing his football education with his actual schooling.
Harvey Elliott (Fulham) – 16 Years, 30 Days Old
Before Nwaneri claimed the record, Harvey Elliott held the distinction of being the Premier League’s youngest-ever player. The talented midfielder made his debut for Fulham against Wolverhampton Wanderers on May 4, 2019, aged just 16 years and 30 days. Elliott came on as a substitute during Fulham’s 1-0 defeat at Molineux Stadium, with manager Scott Parker giving the youngster his opportunity in a team that had already been relegated from the top flight.
Despite the limited minutes on his debut, Elliott showed enough talent to earn a second Premier League appearance for Fulham in their next match. His potential had already attracted attention from bigger clubs, and less than three months after his record-breaking debut, Elliott made the move to Liverpool for an undisclosed fee.
His development at Liverpool has continued steadily, despite suffering a serious ankle injury in September 2021 that temporarily halted his progress. Elliott has established himself as a regular member of Liverpool’s first-team squad. Since 2019, he has played 85 times for the Reds and managed to score 4 Premier League goals.
Matthew Briggs (Fulham) – 16 Years, 68 Days Old
For twelve years, Matthew Briggs held the record as the Premier League’s youngest-ever player until Harvey Elliott broke it in 2019. The defender made his debut for Fulham against Middlesbrough on May 13, 2007, at the age of 16 years and 68 days. Briggs’ historic appearance came on the final day of the 2006-07 season in a 3-1 away defeat at the Riverside Stadium.
Despite his record-breaking early appearance, Briggs had to wait over three years for his first Premier League start and his next appearance in the competition. Throughout his career at Fulham, Briggs made just 13 Premier League appearances across five different seasons. Much of his time at the club was spent out on loan at various teams as he sought regular playing time. These temporary moves took him to clubs, including Leyton Orient, Peterborough United, Bristol City, and Watford, where he aimed to continue his development through consistent first-team football
Briggs eventually moved on from Fulham permanently, dropping down the leagues to secure regular playing opportunities. His career has included spells at various Football League clubs and time in Danish football with Vejle Boldklub. He even represented the Guyana national football team in 17 games, where he scored a single goal. He retired in 2023 from professional football.
Isaiah Brown (West Bromwich Albion) – 16 Years, 117 Days Old
Isaiah “Izzy” Brown made his first EPL appearance for The Baggies against Wigan Athletic on May 4, 2013. The young midfielder was introduced as a substitute in his team’s 3-2 home defeat at The Hawthorns, becoming the fourth-youngest player in Premier League history.
Brown’s single appearance for West Brom would be his only contribution to the club in the Premier League, as Chelsea quickly moved to secure his services. However, Brown’s eight years at Chelsea were characterised by a succession of loan moves rather than first-team appearances at Stamford Bridge.
During his time as a Chelsea player, Brown made just one Premier League appearance for the Blues. His most substantial Premier League experience came during a loan spell at Brighton & Hove Albion in the 2017-18 season, where he featured 13 times in the top flight. Brown’s career also took him to Vitesse Arnhem in the Netherlands, where he actually made more appearances (22) in the Dutch top flight than he ever managed in the Premier League.
Sadly, Brown’s promising career was significantly hampered by injury problems, particularly a serious ACL injury suffered while on loan at Brighton. These persistent injury issues ultimately forced him to announce his retirement from professional football on April 6, 2023, at the age of just 26.
Aaron Lennon (Leeds Utd) – 16 Years, 129 Days Old
Aaron Lennon made his Premier League debut for Leeds United against Tottenham Hotspur on August 23, 2003. The winger’s 11-minute cameo came against the club where he would later spend much of his career, adding an interesting footnote to his Premier League story. His appearance made him the fifth-youngest player in the competition’s history at that time.
Although his debut was brief, Lennon quickly established himself as a promising talent at Leeds. He holds the distinction of being the youngest player in Premier League history to provide an assist, achieving this feat against Arsenal in November 2003 at the age of 16 years and 199 days during just his eighth appearance in the competition.
Lennon went on to enjoy a substantial Premier League career. After his time at Leeds, he moved to Tottenham in 2005, where he would make 266 Premier League appearances over a decade, becoming a key figure at the North London club. Subsequent spells at Everton and Burnley followed as Lennon established himself as a consistent Premier League performer.
He finished his career with an impressive 416 Premier League appearances—the only player among the youngest debutants to surpass the 200-appearance mark in the competition. Lennon’s career demonstrates how early potential can translate into sustained top-level performance.
Jose Baxter (Everton) – 16 Years, 191 Days Old
Jose Baxter made Premier League history for Everton against Blackburn on August 16, 2008, at the age of 16 years and 191 days. His appearance made him Everton’s youngest-ever Premier League player, breaking records previously held by Wayne Rooney (16 years, 297 days) and James Vaughan (16 years, 270 days).
Baxter’s debut came on the opening day of the 2008-09 Premier League season, with the teenager appearing as a substitute at Goodison Park. He made a further two appearances that month but would only feature in four more Premier League matches for Everton thereafter.
After leaving Everton in 2012, Baxter’s career took him to Oldham Athletic and Sheffield United in the lower divisions of English football. His journey faced significant challenges, including suspensions for failed drug tests that derailed his progress. In a surprising development, Everton re-signed Baxter in 2017, initially for their under-23 side, giving him an opportunity to rebuild his career at the club where it had started so promisingly.
Unfortunately, Baxter’s seven Premier League appearances all came during his teenage years, and he never managed to return to the top flight in his later career. He retired in 2020 after playing 8 games for Memphis 901.
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (Aston Villa) – 16 Years, 198 Days Old
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy made his Premier League debut for Aston Villa against Sunderland on March 14, 2015, aged 16 years and 198 days. The young striker was introduced as an 83rd-minute substitute during Villa’s comprehensive 4-0 victory at Villa Park, replacing Christian Benteke for the closing stages of the match.
Despite his promising start, Hepburn-Murphy made just one more Premier League appearance for Villa, which came over a year later in May 2016 against Newcastle United. This limited top-flight exposure came shortly before Villa’s relegation from the Premier League that season. During the club’s time in the Championship, he made 10 more league appearances but struggled to establish himself as a regular first-team player.
After failing to secure consistent playing time at Villa, Hepburn-Murphy was eventually released by the club in the summer of 2020. His subsequent career has included spells at Tranmere Rovers and time abroad with Pafos FC in Cyprus, as he sought to rebuild his career away from the spotlight of his early breakthrough.
His transition from teenage prospect to established professional proved challenging, a common theme among many young debutants. He is still young, and at 26 years of age, he currently plays for Crawley Town in League One. He currently has 3 goals in 25 appearances during the season.
