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Who is the youngest Premier League goalscorer? | Top 10

For many young players, making a single appearance in the Premier League is a dream come true, yet alone scoring in the hardest league in the world. Some young prodigies, however, were able to live their dreams almost instantly by stealing the headlines and finding the back of the net. When looking at the youngest to do this, it brings up a wealth of names from both the past and present. Some have become megastars whilst others never quite reached the heights expected of them. So, who is the youngest Premier League goalscorer ever and who else makes the top 10?

 

Who is the youngest Premier League goalscorer ever?

 

  1. Raheem Sterling (17yrs 10mths, 12 days)

When Raheem Sterling debuted for Liverpool in May 2012, his pace and trickery got everyone talking about his potential to be a star. He didn’t wait too much longer to show why he was so hyped as he soon became a regular in the starting line-up. It was no surprise then when Sterling scored his debut goal just six months later with a fine strike as he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win against Reading on the 20th October 2012.

From there, Sterling has developed into one of the Premier League’s top stars even though it would be a move to Manchester City that would bring him the League titles a player of his pedigree often craves.

 

  1. Daniel Jebbison (17yrs 10mths, 5 days)

The 2020/21 season was a miserable season for Sheffield United however there was silver lining for The Blades through the emergence of young striker Daniel Jebbison who is the ninth youngest Premier League goalscorer ever and the most recent to make the list. The Canadian-born striker was given the chance to shine at Bramall Lane after the club rotated players once their relegation was already confirmed.

After Jebbison debuted on the 8th May 2021 against Crystal Palace, he would start against Everton just one week later on the 16th May. It was here where Jebbison would make history tapping home to score on his full debut for the club. Jebbison’s goal became a major landmark as the England youth international became the youngest player to score on their starting debut. A player to look out for.

 

  1. Federico Macheda (17yrs, 7mths, 14 days)

Federico Macheda showed a lot of promise as a teenager at Old Trafford with Manchester United. He shone in both the youth and reserve sides prompting Sir Alex Ferguson to call him up to the senior squad. It was to be a smart decision as Macheda made an almost immediate impact. In a match against Aston Villa on the 5th April 2009, United were tied 2-2 until Macheda stole the headlines with a brilliant turn and curled finish to give United the victory.

It put the Italian in the spotlight and he backed his promise scoring in next appearance one week later against Sunderland. He would never quite settle in English football however and moves on loan to other Premier League sides failed to showcase his talent. Macheda would eventually shine after leaving England for Greece becoming a regular scorer for top Greek side Panathinaikos.

 

  1. Michael Ball (17yrs, 6mths, 7days)

Defenders rarely score yet alone on a debut so it was a massive shock to see Michael ball bag his first goal early in his career whilst at Everton. He would notch his first senior goal in the 1997/98 season bagging the equaliser against Leicester City in a 1-1 draw.

Ball would become a regular in the Everton side, as either a left-back or in the centre of defence, before going on to star for the likes of Rangers and Man City before calling it time with Leicester City – the side he scored his first goal against.

 

  1. Andy Turner (17yrs, 5mths, 13 days)

For years, the youngest Premier League goalscorer was Irish international Andy Turner. The lively midfielder scored for Tottenham in just the third week of the Premier League’s existence scoring on the 5th September 1992 in a match against Everton.

It would be the peak of his career with Tottenham as he fell out of the first team in the following seasons. Turner would remain a solid presence for teams up and down the English football pyramid after leaving Spurs in 1996 helping the likes of Crystal Palace and Wolves in their quests for promotion to the Premier League.

 

  1. Michael Owen (17yrs, 4mths, 22 days)

When Michael Owen debuted for Liverpool in 1997, the world soon realised just how far the teen prodigy could go. Owen didn’t take long to take the headlines as he scored on his debut on 6th May 1997 coming off the bench to score against Wimbledon even though The Dons would eventually win the match. Owen’s thirst for goals would only increase from there and he would go on to score 18 goals the following season for The Reds. It was a sign of things to come as Owen would go on to become one of England’s top strikers in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

 

  1. Cesc Fabregas (17yrs, 3mths, 21 days)

Very few players enjoyed such a meteoric rise to fame so young as Cesc Fabregas. The young midfielder shattered Arsenal youth records in the 2003/04 season becoming their youngest player and goalscorer after impressive performances in the League Cup. His Premier League debut would come the season afterwards becoming Patrick Vieira’s replacement in midfield.

He would notch his first goal shortly afterwards as he scored in a 3-0 victory against Blackburn in 2004. It was the crowing of a new midfield maestro at The Gunners where Fabregas would be their main star before leaving for Barcelona in 2011. Fabregas would later win the Premier League with Chelsea as he became one of the best central midfielders in Europe over the 2000s and 2010s.

 

  1. Wayne Rooney (16yrs, 11 mths 25 days)

Before his career started, Wayne Rooney was not heralded as a headline prospect. That all changed on the 19th October 2002. Rooney would take the world by storm scoring a thunderous effort from distance to defeat then-reigning champions Arsenal and become the then youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.

From there, Rooney’s reputation would grow as he would claim the BBC’s Young Personality of the Year award just a few weeks later. It marked the start of a record-breaking career for Rooney who shattered records for both club and country in a career that few have surpassed.

 

  1. James Milner (16yrs,11mths, 25 days)

Very few players have been as versatile as James Milner and the Premier League stalwart has always been a jack of all trades at the highest level. It was apparent from his debut with Leeds in 2002 as to his true potential and that came apparent just a few weeks later. Milner would equal Wayne Rooney’s record of youngest goalscorer ever when he netted against Sunderland in a 2-1 win on Boxing Day 2002.

It was a showcase of all of Milner’s abilities and one that served him well in a career that has seen Milner win all the major titles in English football and shine with some of the country’s biggest teams such as Manchester City and Liverpool.

 

  1. James Vaughan (16yrs, 11mths, 22days)

Everton enjoyed a steady stream of top talent from their academy in the mid-2000s and one who tried to make the jump was future Wales striker James Vaughan. With pace in abundance, Vaughan was a handful as a young prospect and this was none more apparent on his debut on the 10th April 2005.

Coming off the bench, Vaughan latched onto a counter attack and scored against Crystal Palace and making him a cult hero for Everton fans. It also made him the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history, a record which remains to this day. Vaughan would struggle in the top flight as injuries hindered his progress and would become a regular in England’s lower leagues shining for the likes of Huddersfield Town, Bury and Tranmere Rovers.

 

 

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