MOST SCHOOLS dream of lining up for their favorite Premier League clubs – but not many get to do it while completing their homework.
But every now and then a young gun rushes onto the scene to claim the top spot.
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri made history last season by becoming the youngest player in the Premier League era.
But what happened to the rest of us who had our first taste of great joy while still a child? Below, Sun Sport takes a look at the top 10 youngest stars to debut in Prem.
10. JACK ROBINSON (16 years 260 days)
The defender became Liverpool’s youngest player in the Premier League when he came off the bench against Hull City in Rafa Benitez’s final game on 9 May 2010.
Several loan spells followed at Wolves and Blackpool as well as international recognition with England from under-16 to U21 level.
But he left Anfield after making just two more appearances for QPR in 2014.
He stayed there for four years, including a loan to Huddersfield, before joining Nottingham Forest.
Now Robinson is back in the Premier League with Sheffield United after helping them gain promotion from the Championship last season before moving to Bramall Lane in 2020.
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9. REECE OXFORD (16 years 236 days)
The 24-year-old has been tipped for major achievements after captaining England at various youth levels – and he has vowed to appear on the big stage in style. somehow.
Back in August 2015, he shone on his first-team debut as West Ham won 2-0 against Arsenal, but things quickly turned sour.
Despite signing a long-term contract on his 18th birthday, he was transferred on loan to Reading before two spells with Gladbach in the Bundesliga, followed by another spell with Augsburg.
The defender then left the Hammers permanently in 2019 for Augsburg after making just seven more top-flight appearances and he remains at the Bundesliga side to this day.
8. RUSHIAN HEPBURN-MURPHY (16 years 198 days)
The 25-year-old Swindon Town striker made his Prem debut from the bench for Aston Villa in a 4-0 win over Sunderland on 14 March 2015.
After graduating from their academy, he played more than 13 times in the league for them between loans at Cambridge United, Tranmere and Derby.
But the former England U20 player left Villa Park for Cypriot side Paphos in 2020 and scored SEVEN on his debut in a pre-season friendly.
After five goals in his first campaign, he missed the entire second through injury and was eventually released last year, leading to a free transfer to Swindon that resulted in eight goals in 32 appearances in League Two.
7. GARY MCSHEFFREY (16 years 198 days)
The now 41-year-old now has management experience after a season at Doncaster.
But back in February 1999, he made his Coventry debut against local rivals Aston Villa and helped them win 4-1.
The former left-winger, who became a Coventry legend after two spells with the Sky Blues, was sandwiched between four years at Birmingham.
He also played for the likes of Nottingham Forest and Leeds before ending his career in non-league after a spell with Doncaster.
6. JOSE BAXTER (16 years 191 days)
The attacking midfielder was tipped to become the next Wayne Rooney when he joined Everton and made his debut on the opening day of the 2008/09 season.
But after just seven top-flight appearances and a loan spell at Tranmere, he arrived at Oldham.
His performances there earned him a move to Sheffield United and he produced the best form of his career with the Blades in League One before being suspended after testing positive for Ecstasy in 2016.
Everton offered him a lifeline and a one-year contract following that ban but he was released at the end of the season after failing to make a first-team appearance.
Baxter went on to play for Oldham and then Plymouth before moving to Memphis 901 FC for a year, after which he retired at the age of 29 in 2021.
5. AARON LENNON (16 years 129 days)
The winger rose through the ranks at Leeds and left away at Tottenham in a 2-1 defeat in August 2003 for his appearance.
Spurs soon recognized his potential and arrived at White Hart Lane two years later, where he spent a decade with the North London club.
Lennon also became a regular for England, earning 21 caps for England and then signing for Everton after a loan spell there.
Three years at Goodison were followed by two years at Burnley before 12 months in Turkey at Kayseri, but he returned to the Clarets to finish his career and hang up his boots last year.
4. IZZY BROWN (16 years 117 days)
The former England youth international tragically had to cut his career short due to injury and retire in April 2023.
He made his Prem debut for West Brom on 4 May 2013 in a 3–2 home defeat against Wigan.
Just a few months later he controversially moved to Chelsea before the striker went on loan to Dutch sides Vitesse, Rotherham, Huddersfield, Brighton, Leeds, Luton and Sheffield Wednesday.
After just one top-flight appearance for the Blues, he eventually left permanently in 2021 to join Preston, but he was unable to play a single match for them due to injury and he eventually he has retired.
3. MATTHEW BRIGGS (16 years 68 days)
Briggs was just 16 when he broke into Lawrie Sanchez’s Fulham first team against Middlesbrough in May 2007 and he told Sun Sport how he returned to school on the crest of a wave.
But his career at Craven Cottage never really took off and he ventured to Millwall, Colchester, Chesterfield and Barnet before, aged 28, he dropped into non-league with Maldon & Tiptree.
That led to a short spell playing in Denmark as well as playing internationally for Guyana, he has represented England at various levels up to the U21s, but is now lining up at the age of 32 for Horsham.
2. HARVEY ELLIOTT (16 years 30 days)
The 20-year-old is currently a regular starter in the first team for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and England U21.
But for Fulham in 2019, Elliott made his Premier League debut after replacing Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa in a 1-0 loss to Wolves.
He left the Cottagers that summer for Anfield, and after shining on loan at Blackburn in the 2020/21 season, he won the League Cup, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup medal with the Red Devils. .
1. ETHAN NWANERI (15 years 181 days)
The The Gunner star rewrote history as the youngest player in the Premier League just 15 years old.
And less than 24 hours later, he still submitted his English homework on time, revealing to Sun Sport about his former teacher.
The The Arsenal star replaced Fabio Vieira in the 92nd minute in the 3-0 away win against Brentford on 18 September 2022 and at the age of 15 years and 181 days, he broke the previous record held by Harvey Elliott.
He signed a long-term contract with the club in the summer and Mikel Arteta has high hopes for the youngster.
