The Premier League is widely considered the best league in the world, with many of the greatest players from around the globe all competing on one stage.
And as the saying goes, “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”
Sometimes, managers of English clubs take that to heart, giving incredibly young players a chance to shine on the senior stage.
The Sporting News brings you a roundup of the greenest players in Premier League history, dating back to the league’s inception in 1992.
MORE: Who is the youngest goal scorer in Premier League history?
Youngest players in Premier League history
Mikel Arteta has handed debuts to the two youngest players in Premier League history, as no younger player has stepped onto a Premier League pitch than Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman.
Nwaneri 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 get on the pitch. His current teammate, Dowman, fell just days short of beating that mark, as the new academy product appeared in the 2025/26 season opener against Leeds.
Dowman won a penalty late in his league debut, leading many to gush about his potential contributions at a young age.
| 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 years, 198 days | Feb. 27, 1999 | 4-1 W at Aston Villa |
When was Max Dowman born?
The Premier League’s second-youngest player was born on Dec. 31, 2009. On this date…
- #1 song on this date (USA): Empire State of Mind (Jay-Z and Alicia Keys)
- #1 song on this date (UK): The Climb (Joe McElderry)
- Arsenal’s current stadium, The Emirates, opened three-and-a-half years prior, replacing Highbury
- Actor Anthony Hopkins turned 71 years old, while Sir Alex Ferguson turned 67
- Four days prior, current Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made his first Premier League appearance for Everton since returning from a torn ACL, logging 15 minutes against Sunderland in a 2-0 victory.
- Arsenal legend Thierry Henry had long since departed the Gunners, nearing the end of his Barcelona tenure and readying a move to the New York Red Bulls.
When was Ethan Nwaneri born?
The Premier League’s youngest-ever player was born on March 21, 2007. On this date…
- #1 song on this date (USA): Glamorous, Fergie (feat. Ludacris)
- #1 song on this date (UK): Walk This Way (Sugababes Vs Girls Aloud)
- Arsenal’s current stadium, The Emirates, had already opened, replacing Highbury
- Musical artist Eddie Money turned 58
- Three days prior, 25-year-old Mikel Arteta, in his third year at Everton, played 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over Arsenal — the goal was scored by Andy Johnson, the goalkeepers were Tim Howard and Jens Lehmann, the referee was Mark Clattenburg, and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was in his 11th season in charge.
- An injured Thierry Henry had already made his final Arsenal appearance, destined to depart for Barcelona that summer.
