Following 15-year-old Max Dowman's debut for Arsenal against Leeds, Ladbrokes takes a look at the 10 youngest players in Premier League history.
The Gunners starlet did not quite break the record for the youngest ever Premier League player, but aged just 15 years and 235 days, his name will forever be etched into the history books.
The youngest players in Premier League history
10. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (16 years and 198 days)
When Aston Villa faced Sunderland in a relegation six-pointer in March 2015, 16-year-old Rushian Hepburn-Murphy became Villa's youngest ever Premier League player, replacing Christian Benteke in the 83rd minute.
After storming into a 4-0 lead inside the first half, Tim Sherwood's side were in a position of real comfort as the game drew to a close, allowing Hepburn-Murphy to grace a Premier League pitch for the first time with no pressure on his shoulders.
The striker made a total of two Premier League appearances for Aston Villa, before moves to Cambridge, Tranmere, Pafos and Swindon. These days, he plays his football in the EFL, while former club Aston Villa push for Champions League football.
9. Gary McSheffrey (16 years and 198 days)
Coincidentally, Gary McSheffrey also made his Premier League debut aged 16 years and 198 days, featuring for Coventry in an impressive 4-1 win at Aston Villa in February 1999.
The attacker was brought on in the 89th minute for his one league appearance of the season, becoming the youngest Premier League player ever at the time, but he would have to wait until the 2007/08 season to score his first PL goal - which he bagged for Birmingham City.
In the top flight, McSheffrey played 41 games, scoring three times, but the forward featured for 14 clubs across a career spanning 22 years. In the 2021/22 campaign, McSheffrey was appointed as manager of Doncaster Rovers, and he is currently the under-21 head coach at Sheffield United - whose first team are among the favourites to be promoted back to the Premier League.
8. Jose Baxter (16 years and 191 days)
In March 2008, aged just a week younger than Hepburn-Murphy and McSheffrey, Jose Baxter featured in England's top flight for the first time as he became the youngest footballer to play Premier League football for Everton.
The young striker came onto the pitch in the 78th minute with the score at 2-2, but visitors Blackburn Rovers would eventually go on to score a stoppage-time winner. Baxter's Premier League career didn't blossom how he would've hoped after that, with just six additional appearances to follow.
His career saw him float around England's lower leagues, featuring for Tranmere, Oldham, Sheffield United and Plymouth before finishing his playing days at American side Memphis 901.
7. Aaron Lennon (16 years and 129 days)
The first name on the list with real Premier League pedigree, Aaron Lennon was introduced to the top flight in August 2003, coming on as a late substitute for Leeds United in a 2-1 defeat away at Tottenham.
That was the first of the speedy winger's 11 appearances that season, before a move to Spurs garnered another 266. In total, Lennon played 416 Premier League games across his time at Leeds, Tottenham, Everton and Burnley, scoring 36 goals and grabbing 50 assists.
The winger also got 21 caps for England, making World Cup appearances in both 2006 and 2010, before hanging up his boots in 2022 and turning to coaching.
6. Isaiah Brown (16 years and 117 days)
Another player who featured as a late sub in their PL debut, Izzy Brown played 10 minutes in May 2013, as his West Brom side fell to a surprising home defeat against Wigan.
Considered a bright young prodigy, Brown was quickly snapped up by Chelsea, but made just one Premier League appearance for the Blues - who won the 2024/25 Conference League. Loan moves to Vitesse, Rotherham and Huddersfield came before the midfielder's next PL appearance, as he played 13 times for Brighton in the 2017/18 season.
More loan moves followed, before a permanent move to Preston North End in 2022. However, Brown failed to make a single Championship appearance for Preston, announcing that injury was forcing him into retirement at the age of just 26.
5. Matthew Briggs (16 years and 68 days)
The first of two Fulham players on this list, Matthew Briggs became the Premier League's youngest ever player on the final day of the 2006/07 season, when he replaced Moritz Volz as a late substitute.
The Fulham academy product made a total of 13 appearances in the top flight, with the last coming in the 2013/14 season, but he is another player on this list who failed to fulfil their potential. Loan moves to the likes of Bristol City and Watford preceded a permanent move to Millwall, but Briggs' career petered out as he predominantly floated around England's lower leagues.
The former Fulham man did enjoy an international career, playing 17 times for Guyana before retiring from football at the age of 32.
4. Harvey Elliott (16 years and 30 days)
The player who took the record off of Briggs, Harvey Elliott also became the Premier League's youngest ever player while wearing a Fulham shirt, featuring as an 88th minute substitute in a 1-0 defeat to Wolves in May 2019.
The first name on the list who is still playing top flight football, Elliot made two PL appearances for the Cottagers before signing for Liverpool just two months after his debut. The midfielder played almost 100 Premier League appearances for the Reds, and has already claimed his first Premier League title - although, Liverpool are no longer the favourites to win the 2025/26 campaign.
3. Jeremy Monga (15 years and 271 days)
The second-most recent addition to the list, Jeremy Monga made his top flight debut as a 74th minute sub when Leicester played Newcastle in April 2025, with the Foxes losing 3-0.
As Ruud van Nistelrooy's side looked destined for relegation to the Championship, the manager turned to Monga to give the crowd something to cheer, and while the 15-year-old was unable to turn the tide in his team's favour, his cameo was a positive sign for the Leicester fans.
At the time, Monga became just the second player to play Premier League football before his 16th birthday, and will be hoping for many more games in the top flight as his career unfolds.
2. Max Dowman (15 years and 235 days)
Max Dowman became the second-youngest player to make a Premier League appearance when he came off the bench for a dazzling cameo during Arsenal's resounding win over Leeds in August 2025.
Despite his tender age, Dowman has become a well-known name amongst Gunners fans after an impressive pre-season, and his half-an-hour showing at the Emirates did little to stem the excitement surrounding the young winger.
Following several eye-catching moments after coming on in the 64th minute, the teenager won his side a penalty in added time, which Viktor Gyokeres converted to wrap up a 5-0 victory.
1. Ethan Nwaneri (15 years and 181 days)
History was made in September 2022 when 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri came off the bench for Arsenal away at Brentford, and he remains the youngest player to ever grace the Premier League.
Now 18, Nwaneri is already seen as an important player for Arsenal, playing more than 30 PL games and bagging four goals as the Gunners consistently hunt for a first Premier League title since 2004. Nwaneri looks destined to forge an excellent career for himself, with phenomenal natural talent and the maturity to match.
The youngster faced real pressure in 2025 when he had to replace Arsenal's injured talisman, Bukayo Saka, but Nwaneri took on the challenge with pride, putting in excellent performances and convincing everybody of his ability.
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A plethora of games from the 2024/25 season will be shown from August 16, 2024 to May 25, 2025 on Amazon Prime, Sky Sports and BT Sport for viewers in the UK.
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