What happened to 11 youngest Premier League players after Nwaneri smashes record

Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest-ever player to feature in the Premier League when Mikel Arteta brought him on during Arsenal's comfortable win over Brentford on Sunday.

The 15-year-old is still yet to take his GCSE's, but Arteta felt he was ready to play in a top-flight match. His introduction meant that he smashed the record for the youngest Premier League player by six months.

However, he may hope that his career takes a different trajectory to many of the other players among the youngest 11. Here, Mirror Football looks at the players on that list and where they ended up after making history.

1. Ethan Nwaneri - 15 years, 5 months, 28 days

The youngest-ever Premier League player made his debut last weekend against Brentford. He will hope for more opportunities this season, with Gunners boss Arteta clearly impressed with the wonderkid.

"It's another step, another experience. In your career all the steps are not going to be forward. After that, maybe he needs three backwards to go another one forward, but as well I think it sends a really strong message about who we are as a club," the Arsenal manager said of his record-breaker.

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2. Harvey Elliott - 16 years, 1 month

Nwaneri broke the record previously held by Harvey Elliott, who made his debut as a 16-year-old for Fulham in 2019. Two months after that appearance, the Englishman joined Liverpool, who were subsequently forced to pay a record compensation fee to the Cottagers.

After a successful loan spell at Blackburn Rovers, Elliott broke into Jurgen Klopp's first team, though a significant injury just three games in derailed his campaign. He looks back to his best this season, though, and is one of Klopp's starting midfielders, having recently signed a new long-term contract.

3. Matthew Briggs - 16 years, 2 months, 7 days

Before Elliott, former Fulham man Matthew Briggs held the record, having been a month older than the now-Liverpool star when he featured against Middlesbrough. Briggs would later state his shock at being handed a call-up to the first-team, with the left-back taking his GCSEs the following day.

"Lawrie Sanchez said he wanted me to travel with the squad and there was a chance I'd get on. I was buzzing. Going back to school the day after, everyone was like 'oh my God' you've played in the Premier League," he said.

Unfortunately for Briggs, his career has nosedived since them, with a series of loans to EFL clubs preceding his drop into non-league. He now features for Southern League Premier Division South side Gosport Borough, though does still turn out for Guyana on the international stage.

4. Izzy Brown - 16 years, 3 months, 27 days

Izzy Brown was an unused substitute twice before finally making his debut for West Brom in May 2013. Just a couple of months later, Chelsea used the Elite Player Performance Plan to sign the striker, while only paying a nominal fee to the Baggies.

After making one Premier League appearance for the Blues, he was sent out on a series of loans to Championship clubs. The highlight of those was featuring for Huddersfield in the 2017 Championship play-off final as they secured promotion.

Following his spell at the Terriers, he endured several underwhelming spells with Brighton, Leeds United, Luton and Sheffield Wednesday. He left Chelsea last summer for Preston North End, but ruptured his ACL and was released this year without making an appearance, with the striker still a free agent.

5. Aaron Lennon - 16 years, 4 months, 7 days

One of the most recognisable players on this list is Aaron Lennon, who made his debut at the age of 16 for Leeds in 2003. Amid the Whites' financial problems, he was sold to Tottenham two years later, going on to become one of the best wingers in the top flight.

After a decade at Spurs, he joined Everton, before two spells at Burnley were sandwiched by a year at Turkish side Kayserispor. Lennon remains without a club, though did make 21 appearances for England, playing in three World Cups.

6. Jose Baxter - 16 years, 6 months, 9 days

Jose Baxter became Everton's youngest-ever player when he featured in a defeat by Blackburn in 2008. He struggled to carve out a career at Goodison Park, though, and joined Oldham Athletic in 2013.

He then enjoyed a successful spell at Sheffield United before returning to Oldham. A short time at Plymouth Argyle was his final spell in England before he joined American second-tier side Memphis 901 in February 2020, retiring 18 months later at the young age of 29.

7. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy - 16 years, 6 months, 14 days

As has been the way with many of these players, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy has failed to live up to the hype since becoming Aston Villa's youngest-ever Premier League player in 2015. He only played two top-flight games for Villa and spent time at Cambridge United and Tranmere Rovers.

Hepburn-Murphy was sent on loan to Derby County in the January transfer window of 2020, but failed to make an appearance for the Rams. After his release from Villa that same year, he had a two-year spell in Cyprus with Pafos, before returning to England to join Swindon Town this summer.

8. Reece Oxford - 16 years, 7 months, 24 days

Much was expected of Reece Oxford when he starred in West Ham's win over Arsenal in 2015. By that point, he was already the youngest player in the Hammers' history, being handed a lucrative contract.

But he failed to live up to his billing, instead being sent on unsuccessful loans to Reading and Borussia Monchengladbach. The centre-back was sold to Augsburg in 2019 and impressed in the Bundesliga last season.

9. Jack Robinson - 16 years, 8 months, 7 days

Liverpool's Jack Robinson had arguably the most successful debut of the players on this list, with his performance against Arsenal earning him a place in the BBC Sport team of the week. He would only make two more top-flight appearances for the Reds, though, instead featuring in the Championship on loan at Wolves and Blackpool.

Robinson was sold to QPR in 2014 before moving to Nottingham Forest four years later. The defender has since established himself at Sheffield United, whom he has played for in the Premier League and Championship.

10. Jack Wilshere - 16 years, 8 months, 12 days

Alongside Lennon, the most recognisable player on this list is Jack Wilshere, who became the Gunners' youngest-ever league debutant when featuring in a 4-0 hammering of Blackburn in 2008. Much was expected of Wilshere, especially after a standout performance against Barcelona in the Champions League.

Unfortunately for Wilshere, despite an impressive start to his Arsenal career, he became embattled by injuries. Those issues ultimately forced him to leave the club in 2018 for West Ham, though he struggled to make an impact at the Hammers.

Wilshere then had a six-month spell at Bournemouth in 2021, but struggled to find a club after that, with his final club being Danish side Aarhaus last term. The midfielder retired in the summer to take up a coaching position in Arsenal's academy, having earned 34 England caps.

11. Angel Gomes - 16 years, 8 months, 20 days

Angel Gomes became the first player born in the 2000s to play for Manchester United when he came on during a win over Crystal Palace in 2017. But he found game time hard to come by thereafter, making only 10 appearances for the Red Devils.

United failed to tie him down to a new contract and he was released in 2020, signing a five-year deal with Lille. After a season-long loan spell at Boavista, he returned to France to become a regular feature for his parent club.

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