From Arsenal's blossoming superstar Ethan Nwaneri to Theo Walcott and Harvey Elliott… the YOUNGEST players in history to represent each Premier League club – and where they are now

There is nothing more exciting for fans than having a fresh young talent break through the ranks as a teenager at their football club – just ask Arsenal supporters about Ethan Nwaneri in recent years.

Managers are often wary to through youngsters into the mix before being fully confident the player is ready, which only fuels hope among fans that the new kid on the block is the real deal.

Mail Sport takes a look at the youngest player to star for each current Premier League club, with the likes of Theo Walcott, Harvey Elliott and Reece Oxford on the list.

AFC Bournemouth: Jayden Stockley – 16 years and 21 days

October 6, 2009 (vs Northampton Town, EFL Trophy)

Now a 31-year-old striker plying his trade at Port Vale, Stockley broke on to the scene at 16 during Eddie Howe’s first reign at Bournemouth. 

He made 21 appearances for the Cherries, scoring twice in that time.

Jayden Stockley is the youngest to star for Bournemouth and plays for Port Vale (above, left)

Arsenal: Ethan Nwaneri – 15 years, 5 months and 28 days

September 18, 2022 (vs Brentford, Premier League) 

Arsenal’s 3-0 away win over Brentford back in 2022 brought a historic moment in English football as Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest ever player to star in a Premier League match. 

With five goals in 20 games so far, the youngster has continued to impress as a starlet of the football club – but is currently sidelined with a muscular injury.

Aston Villa: Rushian Hepburn-Murphy – 16 years, 6 months and 14 days

March 14, 2015 (vs Sunderland, Premier League)

Replacing Christian Benteke with seven minutes left to play against Sunderland in 2015, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy became Aston Villa’s youngest ever player and went on to make just 17 appearances for the club.

The forward is still just 26 and now stars for League One outfit Crawley, having previously played for Cypriot club Pafos and Swindon Town since his exit from Villa Park in 2020. 

Brentford: Ryan Watts – 16 years, 11 months and 19 days

May 7, 2005 (vs Hull City, League One) 

Starring for Brentford less than a month out from his 17th birthday, Ryan Watts made his one and only Bees appearances against Hull City in 2005.

After moving around 11 different clubs following his exit from Brentford in 2006, Watts retired in his mid-20s at Wealdstone.

Brighton: Jake Forster-Caskey – 16 years and 13 days

May 8, 2010 (vs Yeovil Town, League One)

A former England Under-21 international, Jake Forster-Caskey broke through the Brighton ranks in 2010 to become the club’s youngest ever player against Yeovil Town in League One.

Despite the Seagulls’ meteoric rise to the Premier League since, the now 30-year-old is still enjoying his football in League One with Stevenage, where he has already chalked up 55 appearances since his move from Charlton in 2023. 

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy is still just 26 and now stars for Crawley after his Aston Villa days

Chelsea: Ian Hamilton – 16 years, 4 months and 15 days

March 18, 1967 (vs Tottenham, First Division)

Chelsea fans have to date back almost 60 years for their club’s youngest ever player, with Ian Hamilton starring against Tottenham in 1967 and drawing comparisons to England legend Jimmy Greaves.

Hamilton, now 73, left the Blues after just five games to join Southend United, before making over 200 appearances for Aston Villa in the 1970s. 

Crystal Palace: John Bostock – 15 years, 9 months and 14 days

October 29, 2007 (vs Watford, Championship) 

Despite being offered a contract at Barcelona when he was 14, John Bostock remained at Crystal Palace to become the club’s youngest ever player, replacing Ben Watson in a 2-0 defeat by Watford in 2007.

His time in the top flight didn’t quite work out, however, as Bostock played just once for Palace and three times for Tottenham. He now stars for non-league outfit Solihull Moors.

Everton: Thierry Small – 16 years, 5 months and 23 days

January 24 (vs Sheffield Wednesday, League Cup) 

Still just 20 years of age at Charlton Athletic, former Everton and Southampton left-back Thierry Small will have high hopes of returning to the summit of English football, having played once for the Toffees in the League Cup as a 16-year-old.

Despite his time at Goodison Park and St Mary’s, the youngster has yet to play a Premier League match, featuring only in the FA Cup for Southampton.

Fulham: Harvey Elliott – 16 years and 1 month 

September 25, 2018 (vs Millwall, League Cup)

Another to make their mark in the League Cup, Harvey Elliott is the youngest player ever to star for Fulham back in 2018, having played three times there before his move to Liverpool in 2019.

Despite enduring a wealth of injury issues at Anfield, Elliott has established himself an important member of Liverpool’s squad – and is on course to claim the first Premier League title of his career this season.

John Bostock celebrates winning the National League play-off final with Notts County in 2023

Harvey Elliott pictured during his time at Fulham after facing Millwall in the League Cup in 2018

Ipswich Town: Connor Wickham – 16 years and 11 days

April 11, 2009 (vs Doncaster Rovers, Championship) 

Having become something of a journeyman across the Premier League and Championship, Connor Wickham first broke out at Ipswich in 2009, starring against Doncaster in the Championship. He went on to play for Sunderland, Leeds, Crustal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday on multiple occasions.

Now a free agent having left Charlton Athletic at the end of last season, Wickham is currently looking for his next move.

Leicester City: Johnny Grogan – 14 years, 6 months and 9 days

October 19, 1935 (vs Newcastle United, Second Division) 

The youngest player on this list by some distance, Johnny Grogan made his Leicester debut at just 14 years of age.

The Scot went on make over 40 appearances for the Foxes before moving to Mansfield Town in 1947. 

Liverpool: Jerome Sinclair – 16 years and 6 days 

September 26, 2012 (vs West Brom, League Cup) 

Compared to Raheem Sterling by Liverpool staff upon his arrival from West Bromwich Albion’s academy, the Reds were quick to see what Jerome Sinclair was made of and handed him his debut against the Baggies back in 2012.

It didn’t quite work out for Sinclair as he struggled to make an impact, and eventually moved to Watford in 2016. The 28-year-old appears to have stepped away from football to focus on business opportunities, now owning a branch of fast food chain Morley’s.

Manchester City: Glyn Pardoe – 15 years, 10 months and 10 days

April 11, 1962 (vs Birmingham City, First Division) 

Before establishing himself as a Manchester City legend with over 300 appearances for the club, Glyn Pardoe wrote himself into the history books as the youngest player in their history against Birmingham City in 1962.

Despite his impact for City, the full-back never played a senior match for England. 

Glyn Pardoe is Manchester City’s youngest ever player, starring against Birmingham in 1962

Connor Wickham facing off against Crystal Palace for Ipswich in the Championship in 2009

Manchester United: David Gaskell – 16 years and 19 days 

October 24, 1956 (vs Manchester City, Community Shield) 

A goalkeeper who helped Manchester United win a multitude of trophies during the 1960s, David Gaskell still holds the record as the club’s youngest ever player.

He played at Old Trafford for 12 years before moving to Wigan in 1968 and later Wrexham in 1973. 

Newcastle United: Steve Watson – 16 years, 7 months and 9 days 

November 10, 1990 (vs Wolves, Second Division) 

Now manager of Darlington in the National League North, Steve Watson first made his debut for Newcastle as a 16-year-old in 1990 before playing a key role during Kevin Keegan’s first spell at the Tyneside club.

The right-back enjoyed a fruitful career in both the First Division and Premier League, starring for the Magpies, Aston Villa, Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield Wednesday before hanging up his boots.

Nottingham Forest: Zach Abbott – 16 years, 3 months and 10 days

August 23, (vs Grimsby Town, League Cup) 

Still only an 18-year-old, Zach Abbott has represented England at youth level since 2022, when he first broke on to the scene at Nottingham Forest against Grimsby Town in the League Cup.

With the City Ground club currently exceeding expectations with a superb season in the top flight, Abbott is still waiting for his chance under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Southampton: Theo Walcott – 16 years, 4 months and 21 days 

August 6, 2005 (vs Wolves, Championship) 

Arguably the most high-profile modern player on this list, Theo Walcott burst through the ranks at Southampton as a teenager before moving to Arsenal in 2006, where he received a call-up to join England at the World Cup that summer.

The winger scored an impressive 106 goals for Arsenal in 382 games before his transfer to Everton in 2021. Since retiring back at Southampton, Walcott has taken to punditry and is now a regular on Sky Sports.  

Goalkeeper David Gaskell still holds the record as Manchester United’s youngest ever player

Theo Walcott burst through the ranks at Southampton before moving to Arsenal in 2006

Tottenham: Alfie Devine – 16 years, 5 months and 9 days 

January 10, 2021 (vs Marine FC, FA Cup)

A Liverpool and Wigan youth player before graduating through the Tottenham ranks, Alfie Devine is still Spurs’ youngest ever player after his appearance against Marine FC in the FA Cup four years ago.

Now a 20-year-old, the Tottenham starlet is in the third loan spell of his career at Westerlo in Belgium, having previously been at Port Vale and Plymouth. 

West Ham: Reece Oxford – 16 years, 7 months and 24 days 

July 2, 2015 (vs FC Lusitanos, Europa League qualifying) 

Reece Oxford enjoyed a flurry of excellent performances early in his West Ham career, which began against FC Lusitanos in the Europa League’s qualifying stage.

Although it ultimately didn’t work out for Oxford at West Ham, the now 26-year-old star has had better luck in the Bundesliga in recent seasons with Augsburg. 

Wolves: Chem Campbell – 16 years, 10 months 

October 30, 2019 (vs Aston Villa, League Cup) 

Chem Campbell is still on the books at Wolves six years after becoming the club’s youngest ever player – yet he has only played eight games for them.

That is because the Welsh winger has frequently been loaned out to build experience in the football league, with Wycombe, Charlton and current club Reading all offering a chance for Campbell away from Molineux.