Who is Warren Zaire-Emery? PSG's youngest ever debutant wanted by Man City

Stuart Telford

• 24 Sept 2023 18:43 BST
• 4 min read

Warren Zaire-Emery became Paris Saint-Germain's youngest ever debutant on the opening day of the 2022-23 season and is now a mainstay in the starting XI, but what else is there to know about the nascent midfielder?

PSG have a track record of producing prodigious talents, from Nicolas Anelka back in the 1990s to Kingsley Coman in the modern day.

Coman, a serial champion with Juventus and Bayern Munich since leaving Paris in 2014, was previously PSG's youngest player, but he was usurped thanks to Zaire-Emery's debut in a 5-0 win over Clermont Foot in August 2022. Zaire-Emery made his first appearance for PSG just five months after his 16th birthday.

Warren is the son of former journeyman striker Franck Emery, and his career trajectory looks set to climb significantly higher than his father's did…

What position does Zaire-Emery play in?

Zaire-Emery is a central midfielder who does his best work with the game in front of him. His ability to break up play and then progress it with a carry or a pass is exceptional. He also played on the right wing several times during his debut PSG campaign.

How good is Zaire-Emery?

Anyone who makes their debut for PSG at the age of 16 years, four months 40 days is a promising player, and Zaire-Emery already looks like he belongs in top-flight football.

"The term phenomenon applies to Warren," L'Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi said at the start of 2023. "If you watch one of his matches without knowing his age, it would be impossible to know that he's the youngest player on the pitch."

He shone at the U-17 European Championships in 2022 as France won the competition on penalties, scoring two goals during their run to the final. He was also a key member of PSG's UEFA Youth League side in the 2021-22 season, despite being up to four years younger than many of his opponents.

Furthermore, he was handed his first ever Ligue 1 start during PSG's away trip to Stade Rennais in January 2023, at just 16 years of age, which shows the talent he has.

He also made his Champions League debut in the 2022-23 campaign and became the youngest player to ever start in the knockout stages of the competition against Bayern Munich, aged 16 years and 343 days.

He is a brilliant midfielder and has already been named France U21 captain by Thierry Henry, despite being just 17 years old.

What clubs are interested in Zaire-Emery?

Lorient - this season's surprise package in France - had previously expressed an interest in taking Zaire-Emery on loan, but in the longer-term, Real Madrid and Barcelona are understood to be monitoring his progress.

For the latter, stealing Zaire-Emery could represent some sweet revenge following Xavi Simons move from Barcelona to PSG in 2019.

Furthermore, Arsenal reportedly entered the race to sign Zaire-Emery in 2022, according to RMC. However, it's understood that it's unlikely the Frenchman will leave PSG.

Manchester City are the latest to enter the race for Zaire-Emery, with Pep Guardiola open to a swap deal that could see Bernardo Silva go the other way. That is according to RMC Sport.

When does Zaire-Emery's contract expire?

Zaire-Emery's current deal with PSG runs until 30 June 2025. He only signed his first professional contract last July, so the aforementioned interested clubs might have to wait.

How old is Zaire-Emery?

Born on 8 March 2006, Zaire-Emery is still just 17 years old.

What is Zaire-Emery's Instagram?

Warren Zaire-Emery's Instagram has 489K followers as of September 2023.