Ethan Nwaneri: What happened to the Premier League's other youngest stars?

Robin Bairner

19 Sep 2022 03:50 CDT
3 min read

Ethan Nwaneri, Arsenal, 2022/23 — © ProShots

Ethan Nwaneri made headlines on Sunday when he became the youngest Premier League player in history as he came off the bench for Arsenal in their 3-0 win at Brentford on Sunday.

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He became the first 15-year-old to play during the modern era of England’s top flight, yet that is no guarantee the young midfielder will go on to have a great career.

Indeed, many of the players who broke into the first team of Premier League clubs early have gone on to have only modest careers.

Here’s a look at what the other youngest players to have graced England’s top flight have achieved.

Harvey Elliott

Made his debut while playing for Fulham in an end-of-season encounter against Wolves in 2019 aged just 16 and one month. He subsequently moved to Liverpool a matter of weeks later and is becoming an increasingly prominent member of Jorgen Klopp’s squad. He’s now 19, and remains a player still tipped to reach the top of the game.

Matthew Briggs

Became the youngest Premier League player at the time when he featured for Fulham at Middlesbrough in May 2007. Went out on numerous loans before moving to Millwall in 2014. Has been a journeyman professional with the likes of Colchester, Chesterfield and Barnet. A former England U21 international, he is 31 and plays for Gosport Borough.

Izzy Brown

Debuted for West Brom in the Premier League against Wigan in May 2013 and moved to Chelsea a matter of weeks later. He joined the loan army of the Stamford Bridge club and only left in 2021, when he signed for Preston. Was released after a year at Deepdale and at 25 years old is still a free agent.

Aaron Lennon

Another player who broke into the first team early but went on to be a massive hit. Lennon debuted with Leeds in 2003 and played 43 times for the Elland Road side before moving to Tottenham. Enjoyed a fine career as a Premier League player, turning out for Spurs on nearly 400 occasions, while he also picked up 21 England caps. Now 35, he is a free agent after leaving Burnley in the summer.

Jose Baxter

The only player on this list who is now retired, Baxter elected to hang up his boots before he had even turned 30 after failing to make the grade. It all looked so different when he debuted for Everton in a 3-2 loss at Blackburn in August 2008, but while he went on to play 15 times for the Toffees, he was more known as a Sheffield United and Oldham player. Spent some time in the US before retiring.

Early debuts in the Premier League show that players run across the spectrum of success as a professional. For every Wayne Rooney or James Milner, who made their debut while still 16, there is a Jack Rodwell; someone who falls into obscurity.

Nwaneri might have made his debut for Arsenal on Sunday, but it is only one step along the road to the top in the Premier League.