As the most popular and illustrious football league in the world, the Premier League is considered the gold standard for professional players around the globe hoping to prove themselves at the highest level.
For young stars, emerging as a viable Premier League option is a dream come true, and as the famous saying goes, “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”
That was the case for Liverpool youngster Rio Ngumoha, whose impressive preseason showing earned him minutes off the bench to begin the 2025/26 season. That was to the benefit of the Reds, who snatched all three points in a thriller at St. James’ Park, with the winner provided by none other than their young academy product.
But was the 16-year-old the youngest ever to score in Premier League history? He’s just missed the mark, but he does put himself near the top of a list filled with famous players of legendary status, which he can only dream of replicating.
The Sporting News breaks down which players top the list of youngest-ever goal scorers in the Premier League after the rebrand in 1992 ushered in the modern age of English football.
Youngest goal scorer in Premier League history
With his dramatic winning goal against Newcastle on Aug. 25, Rio Ngumoha became the fourth-youngest goal scorer in Premier League history.
He is only one day shy of Wayne Rooney’s legendary winner against Arsenal in October of 2002, which ended the Gunners’ 30-match Premier League unbeaten streak and, at the time, set the league record. His mark was beaten two months later as James Milner set the new standard.
Milner’s mark stood for just over two years until James Vaughan of Everton became the new holder, a record which has since remained untouched for over 20 years.
| Pos | Name | Club | Age | Date | Match |
| 1. | James Vaughan | Everton | 16 years, 270 days | Apr. 10, 2005 | 4-0 W vs. Crystal Palace |
| 2. | James Milner | Leeds | 16 years, 356 days | Dec. 26, 2002 | 2-1 W vs. Sunderland |
| 3. | Wayne Rooney | Everton | 16 years, 360 days | Oct. 19, 2002 | 2-1 W vs. Arsenal |
| 4. | Rio Ngumoha | Liverpool | 16 years, 361 days | Aug. 25, 2025 | 3-2 W vs. Newcastle |
| 5. | Cesc Fabregas | Arsenal | 17 years, 112 days | Aug. 25, 2004 | 3-0 W vs. Blackburn |
Youngest players in Premier League history
While scoring a goal is a dream achievement for young players in their early Premier League days, simply getting on the pitch is an accomplishment in and of itself.
James Vaughan’s record for youngest-ever Premier League goal scorer may have stood for over 20 years, but the record for youngest-ever player continues to fall repeatedly.
Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal set the record for youngest player to ever appear in a Premier League match when he entered for Arsenal back in 2022, one of just three 15-year-olds ever to enter a match. His teammate fell just days short of beating that mark as new academy product Max Dowman appeared in the 2025/26 season opener against Leeds.
| Pos | Name | Club | Age | Date | Match |
| 1. | Ethan Nwaneri | Arsenal | 15 years, 181 days | Sep. 18, 2022 | W 3-0 at Brentford |
| 2. | Max Dowman | Arsenal | 15 years, 235 days | Aug. 23, 2025 | W 5-0 vs. Leeds |
| 3. | Jeremy Monga | Leicester City | 15 years, 271 days | Apr. 7, 2025 | L 3-0 vs. Newcastle |
| 4. | Harvey Elliott | Fulham | 16 years, 30 days | May 4, 2019 | L 1-0 at Wolves |
| 5. | Matthew Briggs | Fulham | 16 years, 68 days | May 13, 2007 | L 3-1 at Middlesbrough |
| 6. | Izzy Brown | West Brom | 16 years, 117 days | May 4, 2013 | L 3-2 vs. Wigan |
| 7. | Aaron Lennon | Leeds | 16 years, 129 days | Aug. 23, 2003 | L 2-1 at Tottenham |
| 8. | Jose Baxter | Everton | 16 years, 191 days | Aug. 16, 2008 | L 3-2 vs. Blackburn |
| 9. | Rushian Hepburn-Murphy | Aston Villa | 16 years, 198 days | Mar. 14, 2015 | W 4-0 at Sunderland |
| = | Gary McSheffrey | Coventry | 16 yeasr, 198 days | Feb. 27, 1999 | 4-1 W at Aston Villa |
