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.
Raheem Sterling’s first goal in the Premier League proved to be a match-winner back in his Liverpool days, the youngster finding the back of the net just 58 days before his 18th birthday.
Bagging in a 1-0 win over Reading at Anfield during the 2012/13 season, Sterling latched on to Luis Suarez’s flick in behind the Royals’ defence, lashing home an emphatic low drive beyond Alex McCarthy.
Daniel Jebbison has 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.
Lewis Miley has been 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.
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.
Andy Turner – Tottenham Hotspur ⚪️🔵 #tottenham #spurs #thfc pic.twitter.com/Y3tkKCfu3e
— Footballers of the Moment (@footballesstat) March 5, 2023
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 21 years later.
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.
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.
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