When Ethan Nwaneri was subbed in for Fabio Vieira by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta at the 90th minute in the match against Brentford, the English footballer scripted history by becoming the youngest player to play in the Premier League. 

Nwaneri, born in 2007, was only 15 years and 181 days old when he came in to replace Viera. He is the first ever player below the age of 16 to play in England’s top-tier football.

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To put the record in context, we take a look at the five youngest debutants before Nwaneri bagged the top spot. 

Harvey Eliott for Fulham- 16 years 30 days

Harvey Eliott’s Premier League debut came in the 2018-19 season in Fulham colours when the English forward was subbed in at the 88th minute by manager Scott Parker. Fulham eventually lost the Molineux clash 1-0 but Harvey made his way to the PL’s history book. 

Matthew Briggs for Fulham- 16 years 68 days

Matthew Briggs, the 31-year-old Gosport Borough F.C. player, made his debut for Fulham in 2007. Till Eliott’s debut, he held the record for being the youngest player to feature in the Premier League. His debut came against Middlesbrough. 

Isaiah Brown for West Bromwich Albion- 16 years 117 days

Isaiah Brown featured in Premier League action for the first time on May 4, 2013, for West Bromwich Albion. He was subbed into a game against Wigan Athletic for the last four minutes, but West Brom went on to lose the game 3-2. 

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Aaron Lenon for Leeds united- 16 years 129 days

Aaron Lenon’s debut for Leeds in August 2003 made him the youngest debutant in the Premier League, a record he held for four years till Matthew Brigg’s debut. He came on at the White Hart Lane in Leed’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur which the former lost 2-1. 

Jose Baxter for Everton- 16 years 191 days

Jose Baxter made his debut for his home club Everton on the opening day of the 2008/9 season of the Premier League on August 16, 2008. Everton faced Blackburn Rovers in the opening day clash and went on to lose the match 2-3.