Who are the youngest scorers in Premier League history?

Mo Omi
Where do Fabregas and Rooney rank among the Premier League's youngest scorers? (Picture: Sportskeeda)
Where do Fabregas and Rooney rank among the Premier League's youngest scorers? (Picture: Sportskeeda)

As the Premier League season looks set to resume at some stage next month, we take a look at the division's youngest goalscorers.

Youngest scorer in the Premier League

James Vaughan is the youngest scorer in the Premier League history, who scored during Everton's 4-0 thrashing against Crystal Palace on April 10, 2005 - at just 16 years, eight months and 27 days old.

Since the Premier League's inception in 1992, there have been three 16-year-old players to open their scoring account in England's top-flight.

Vaughan celebrates his goal against Crystal Palace with Tim Cahill and Duncan Ferguson at Goodison
Vaughan celebrates his goal against Crystal Palace with Tim Cahill and Duncan Ferguson at Goodison

With the Toffees already 3-0 up, courtesy of goals from Mikel Arteta and a second-half Tim Cahill brace, Vaughan replaced Gary Naysmith with 16 minutes to play.

Teed up by an overlapping Kevin Kilbane, he timed his run into the box well and couldn't miss from such close-range. It was an unforgettable Premier League moment so unsurprisingly, Goodison Park exploded in celebration of the teenager's record-breaking achievement.

Unfortunately though, Vaughan only went on to score six further goals in 52 Premier League appearances over six seasons with Everton and one more at Norwich.

He had a number of groin and knee injuries between 2008-12, which hampered his development and ultimately saw him drop down the divisions.

Before the coronavirus pandemic halted play, he scored 13 goals and created one assists in 32 appearances across two divisions this term - most recently for League One side Tranmere Rovers (on-loan from Bradford City).

Who else features in the top five?

#2 James Milner (Leeds) vs Sunderland - 16 years, 11 months, 22 days

James Milner celebrates with his Leeds teammates after breaking the Premier League record
James Milner celebrates with his Leeds teammates after breaking the Premier League record

The only player in this list who still features in the Premier League, Liverpool midfielder James Milner previously held the youngest goalscoring record before Vaughan broke it three years later.

Milner, who spent eight years at Leeds, scored six minutes into the second-half during their 2-1 away win over Sunderland - having replaced an injured Alan Smith 15 minutes earlier.

It was his fifth Premier League appearance for them, which he followed up with another goal during their 2-0 win over Chelsea two days later, racing into the box and reacting quickest to slot Jason Wilcox's low cross beyond Jurgen Macho from a few yards out.

Milner, who turned 34 in January, is sixth in the Premier League's all-time appearance figures (534) and was close to securing the third league title of his career before this enforced break.

#3 Wayne Rooney (Everton) vs Arsenal - 16 years, 11 months, 25 days

Wayne Rooney's fantastic strike against Arsenal was a sign of things to come over the years
Wayne Rooney's fantastic strike against Arsenal was a sign of things to come over the years

Perhaps the most memorable strike on this list, Milner had broken Wayne Rooney's Premier League record - set two months earlier - after a fabulous strike against Arsenal.

What makes Rooney's goal even more special was the timing: his first goal of the campaign, having replaced Tomasz Radzinski ten minutes earlier, he unleashed an unstoppable strike which cannoned in beyond David Seaman off the crossbar.

He met Thomas Gravesen's hopeful ball forward with a great touch down, took two more touches before firing goalwards - ending Arsenal's unbeaten run in the process.

Rooney went on to score 208 Premier League goals in 491 appearances for Everton and Manchester United, during an illustrious career where he's regarded as a club legend.

He's currently captain of Championship club Derby County, where he scored three goals and created two assists in 11 league appearances before the coronavirus pandemic.

#4 Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) vs Blackburn - 17 years, 3 months and 21 days

Fabregas celebrating with Gilberto Silva during their time together at Arsenal
Fabregas celebrating with Gilberto Silva during their time together at Arsenal

Another player who has asserted his credentials as a Premier League legend is Cesc Fabregas.

The Spanish midfielder flourished for Arsenal during eight years in north London, before doing the same with their London rivals Chelsea - where he became a two-time champion (2015, 2017).

However, his first Premier League goal came in August 2004 during the Gunners' comfortable 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers, although he didn't know much about it!

Gilberto Silva's bullet header from a Thierry Henry corner flicked off his knee inside the box, doubling their lead from close-range.

Only Ryan Giggs (162) has more assists than Fabregas' 111 in Premier League history, while the playmaker - who now plays for Monaco - also scored 50 goals iin 350 appearances.

#5 Michael Owen (Liverpool) vs Wimbledon - 17 yaers, 4 months and 22 days

Michael Owen Liverpool debut v Wimbledon May 1997
Michael Owen Liverpool debut v Wimbledon May 1997

Last but not least, the oldest player on this list is Michael Owen - a month and a day older than Fabregas when he scored during Liverpool's 2-1 away defeat by Wimbledon in 1997.

Owen, who replaced Patrik Berger just before the hour mark as Wimbledon doubled their lead through a Dean Holdsworth header, was keen to make a lasting impression.

That's precisely what he did: a well-taken consolation goal, calmly slotting home from close-range after Stig Inge Bjornebye's pass caught Chris Perry out of position momentarily.

He didn't need a second invitation to pounce, either. Owen raced onto the loose ball and denied goalkeeper Neil Sullivan a clean sheet as Liverpool pressed for a late equaliser.

It wasn't to be, but Owen went from strength-to-strength as time wore on. He scored 150 Premier League goals in 326 appearances for Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Stoke City before retiring in the summer of 2013. If not for injuries, he'd have netted far more.

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Edited by Mo Omi