The youngest Premier League goalscorers ever

  • There have been plenty of Premier League goalscorers who netted prior to their 18th birthday
  • Ethan Nwaneri is the latest to add his name to the top ten list
  • Three 16-year-olds have struck in the Premier League since its inception
Ethan Nwaneri is the latest to enter the top ten
Ethan Nwaneri is the latest to enter the top ten / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
facebooktwitterreddit

For a division so often touted as the best in world football, a surprising amount of literal children have scored in the Premier League over the years.

Despite being unable to enjoy a celebratory pint after their debut top-flight goal or commemorate their achievements with a tattoo, there have been a fair few sprogs who have conquered experienced Premier League defences in the past.

However, scoring young doesn't guarantee a future in the upper echelons of the game, as can be seen by looking at the ten youngest goalscorers in Premier League history.


10. Daniel Jebbison (17y 309d) - May 2021

Daniel Jebbison
Jebbison managed his first top-flight goal for Sheffield United in 2021 / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

Daniel Jebbison only scored three goals in his Sheffield United career, the crown jewel of the trio being his winner in a 1-0 victory against Everton for the Blades in the Premier League.

It was the forward's first ever start in the competition and only his second appearance, but that didn't stop him downing the Toffees with a tap-in at Goodison Park in May 2021.


9. Ethan Nwaneri (17y 247d) - November 2024

Ethan Nwaneri
Nwaneri is an immense talent / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

Ethan Nwaneri had already set the record as the Premier League's youngest ever debutant when he turned out for Arsenal in 2022 aged 15 and two years later the excellent teenager joined the top ten youngest goalscorers in the division's history.

Having already flexed his incredible potential in the cup competitions, Nwaneri netted his first Premier League strike in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in November 2024, lasering home a low drive at the near post.

The first of many, we're certain.


8. Lewis Miley (17y 229d) - December 2023

Lewis Miley, Bruno Guimaraes
The youngster scored his first goal in front of an adoring St James' Park / Stu Forster/GettyImages

Lewis Miley was one of the feel-good stories of Newcastle United's 2023/24 campaign, scoring his first senior goal in the Magpies' 3-0 Premier League win over Fulham.

Raul Jimenez's early red card made it a more comfortable day at the office for Eddie Howe's side, but the highlight of the afternoon was Miley's composed finish just before the hour mark.

Slotting past Bernd Leno with a cool head, Miley became the eighth youngest scorer in Premier League history.


7. Federico Macheda (17y 226d) - April 2009

Frederico Macheda, Cristiano Ronaldo
Macheda's first United goal was crucial / Ryan Pierse/GettyImages

Federico Macheda only scored four Premier League goals during his spell at Manchester United, but his debut strike against Aston Villa certainly proved pivotal.

With the game tied 2-2 at Old Trafford and the title race in the balance, the young Italian popped up with a sublime turn and finish from the edge of the area in stoppage time to win it for the Red Devils and move them back above Liverpool in the table.

Macheda then scored the winner at Sunderland the following week as United eventually went on to lift the title, his contributions crucial to their triumph.


6. Andy Turner (17y 166d) - September 1992

Andy Turner is probably a name that few remember, but he remains Tottenham's youngest ever Premier League goalscorer, netting against Everton in 1992.

Unfortunately for Turner, he quickly dropped down the football pyramid and played a large portion of his career in non-league football.


5. Michael Owen (17y 143d) - May 1997

Michael Owen, Chris Perry
Michael Owen scored his first league goal for the Reds at the end of the 1997/98 season / Getty Images/GettyImages

Still the youngest scorer of a Premier League hat-trick and the only teenager to score four in one game, it's hardly surprising Michael Owen retains his place in the top five of youngest goalscorers in the competition.

Owen burst on to the scene at just 17 years old, netting his first league goal on his Liverpool debut during a 2-1 defeat to Wimbledon. The 2001 Ballon d'Or winner would become a regular starter for the Reds the following season, finishing up with 158 goals at Anfield.


4. Cesc Fabregas (17y 113d) - August 2004

Francesc Fabregas
Fabregas dazzled for Arsenal at a young age / David Rogers/GettyImages

Cesc Fabregas' first Arsenal goal in the Premier League was not befitting of a player with his immense talent. The Spaniard had already scored in the League Cup for the Gunners, but managed his first league goal against Blackburn Rovers in 2004.

However, it wasn't the best strike of his illustrious career, Gilberto Silva's header simply ricocheting off the midfielder's knee two yards from the goal-line.

Regardless, it makes him the fourth youngest scorer in the competition's history.


3. Wayne Rooney (16y 360d) - October 2002

Rooney celebrates
Rooney brought Arsenal's 30-game unbeaten run to an end / Mike Finn-Kelcey/GettyImages

Another player who well and truly burst on to the scene, Wayne Rooney's first Premier League goal was a corker. After breaking into the first team at Everton, the young forward announced himself to the world with a fine finish to bring reigning champions Arsenal to their knees at Goodison Park.

Collecting the ball out of the air, the future Manchester United legend would swiftly turn and unleash a beautiful effort from 25 yards out, catching David Seaman out at his near post.

He remains one of only three 16-year-olds to score in the Premier League.


2. James Milner (16y 356d) - December 2002

James Milner and Alan Smith of Leeds United celebrate victory
Milner has defied the laws of time / Mark Thompson/GettyImages

Not many would have thought when a fresh-faced James Milner popped up with his first Premier League goal at 16 years old that he would still be playing in the English top-flight in the mid-2020s.

Milner grabbed his first of many during a 2-1 comeback victory against Sunderland, only the midfielder's fifth appearance in the Premier League.

He is still Leeds' youngest ever goalscorer in a competitive game.


1. James Vaughan (16y 270d) - April 2005

James Vaughan, Tim Cahill, Duncan Ferguson
Vaughan is the league's youngest goalscorer / Alex Livesey/GettyImages

James Vaughan's record as the youngest Premier League goalscorer has stood since 2005 and it will be a difficult one to topple. The former Everton forward finished his Toffees career with just nine goals, his first league strike coming on his competition debut.

Everton put four unanswered goals past Vaughan's future employers Crystal Palace, the 16-year-old striker netting the final goal of the game just three minutes before time.


READ THE LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS, RUMOURS & GOSSIP

feed