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The 10 Youngest Premier League Goalscorers Of All Time
Cai is a news and features writer that specialises in football, but has experience covering a variety of other sports, including darts, basketball, American football, MMA, boxing, and more. He holds a degree in Football Journalism (BA Hons) from the University of Derby, and worked with Nottingham Forest FC and Burton Albion FC throughout his studies. Cai also has experience working in social media with the Football Association of Wales, where he worked on a freelance basis, and has also been an accredited writer in the JD Cymru Premier for both Y Clwb Pêl-Droed and welshfootie since the 2019/20 season.
Get to know Cai Parry betterPublished17 Jul 2024
Who are the youngest Premier League goalscorers of all time? Read on as we take a look at the 10 youngest players to have scored a goal in the Premier League since its formation in 1992.
The 10 Youngest Premier League Goalscorers Of All Time
10. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool vs Reading, 20/10/2012) – 17 years, 317 days old
Chelsea and England winger Raheem Sterling comes in as the 10th youngest goalscorer in Premier League history, with his goal coming against Reading during his early playing days for Liverpool.
After making his first team breakthrough towards the end of the 2011/12 season, and becoming the Reds’ third-youngest ever player to feature in the Premier League, the then 17-year-old opened his goalscoring account for the club a few months in to the 2012/13 campaign.
An England Under-21 international at the time, Sterling latched onto Luis Suarez’s flick-on, and expertly dispatched his effort past Alex McCarthy in just two touches to become the second-youngest player to ever score for Liverpool in the Premier League, ensuring a 1-0 victory over the Royals in the process.
9. Daniel Jebbison (Sheffield United vs Everton, 16/05/2021) – 17 years, 309 days old
The second most recent addition to our top 10 list is newly-signed Bournemouth forward Daniel Jebbison, who scored his first Premier League goal for Sheffield United against Everton in May 2021 at the age of 17 years and 309 days.
Despite starting the season on loan in the National League North with Chorley, Jebbison soon returned to Sheffield United and made his league debut for the club as a substitute in a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
Less than two weeks later, Jebbison made his first Premier League start and scored the sole goal in a 1-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park, seeing him become the youngest player in the league’s history to score on their first start.
8. Lewis Miley (Newcastle United vs Fulham, 16/12/2023) – 17 years, 229 days old
Last season’s Newcastle United breakthrough star Lewis Miley is the most recent name added to the top 10 youngest players to score in the Premier League, with his maiden goal for the club against Fulham last term earning him eighth place on SportsCasting‘s list.
Miley’s goal in a 3-0 win over Fulham last December meant that he became the youngest player to score in the Premier League since Federico Macheda for Manchester United back in 2009, while he also became the Magpies’ youngest ever goalscorer in the competition.
7. Federico Macheda (Manchester United vs Aston Villa, 05/05/2009) – 17 years, 226 days old
The aforementioned Macheda is next, with his goal against Aston Villa back in 2009 at the age of 17 years and 226 days earning him a spot at seventh place.
After an impressive spell with the Red Devils’ reserve team, Sir Alex Ferguson rewarded Macheda with a first team call-up. Coming on as a substitute, the Italian won the match for his side with a memorable curling effort into the top right corner with just three minutes to spare.
Macheda made his second appearance for Manchester United not long after, and as he did against Villa, he scored for his side after being introduced as a substitue, this time after only 46 seconds.
6. Andy Turner (Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton, 05/09/1992) – 17 years, 166 days old
The sixth youngest goalscorer in Premier League history is Andy Turner, a former player of Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and most recently a manager of Welsh side Cefn Druids.
Turner made his debut under Terry Venables in August 1992 after recovering from a nasty leg break during his school days, and set a then-Premier League record as the division’s youngest ever scorer less than a month later, as he netted against Everton on 5 September, 1992.
5. Michael Owen (Liverpool vs Wimbledon, 06/05/1997) – 17 years, 143 days old
A one-time Ballon d’Or winner, Michael Owen is the fifth youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.
The Chester-born forward scored his first goal for Liverpool, on his debut, against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park on 6 May, 1997. Despite Owen’s goal, the Reds failed to defeat the Dons, which ultimately ensured that the league title went the way of Manchester United.
Owen would go on to replace Reds legend Robbie Fowler as the club’s first choice striker the following season, where he went on to win the Premier League golden boot, and was awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
4. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal vs Blackburn Rovers, 25/08/2004) – 17 years, 113 days old
110-time Spain international, and former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas comes in at fourth place on our list of the youngest Premier League goalscorers, thanks to his first ever goal for the Gunners back in 2004.
After an injury to the iconic Patrick Vieira, Fabregas received his opportunity and made four consecutive Premier League starts under Arsene Wenger, and netted in a 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers, making him Arsenal’s youngest-ever goalscorer in a league game.
Fabregas would go on to make more appearances for the Gunners throughout the remainder of the season, with the likes of Edu and Gilberto Silva suffering injuries, before he went on to commit his long-term future to the club by penning his first professional contract in September 2004.
3. Wayne Rooney (Everton vs Arsenal, 19/10/2002) – 16 years, 360 days old
At the age of 16 years and 360 days, just five days shy of his 17th birthday, England and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney became the third-youngest Premier League goalscorer by scoring for Everton against Arsenal.
The goal came in the dying moments of the match to secure the Toffees a vital victory over the Gunners, ending the North London side’s incredible 30-game unbeaten run. Just 15 days later, Rooney scored his second for Everton in a 1-0 away win over Leeds.
Speaking after the now-Plymouth manager’s goal, Arsenal boss Wenger said: “Rooney is the biggest England talent I’ve seen since I arrived in England. There has certainly not been a player under 20 as good as him since I became a manager here.”
2. James Milner (Leeds United vs Sunderland, 26/12/2002) – 16 years, 356 days old
Three time Premier League winner, one time Champions League winner, and former PFA Young Player of the Year winner James Milner is second on our list of the youngest goalscorers in the league’s history.
Now turning out for Brighton at 38-years-old, Milner’s first league goal came when he was just 16-years and 356 days old, beating Rooney’s record by just four days, when he scored for Leeds United in a 2-1 win over Sunderland back in December 2002.
1. James Vaughan (Everton vs Crystal Palace, 10/05/2005) – 16 years, 270 days old
At first place, and the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Premier League, is EFL journeyman and former Everton striker James Vaughan, who netted his first professional goal for the Toffees at just 16-years and 270 days old.
The Birmingham-born forward had impressed for Everton’s reserve team during the 2004/05 season, which meant that he was rewarded with his first team debut. Coming on in the 73rd minute, Vaughan turned home from Kevin Kilbane’s cross, as his side ran out as 4-0 victors over Crystal Palace.