In May 2019, Harvey Elliott became the youngest player in Premier League history, but his old record was broken when Brentford took on Arsenal on Sunday.
The midfielder set the record before joining Liverpool for the 2019/20 season when, aged 16 years and 30 days, he joined Fulham against Wolves.
It’s a record that has stood for more than three years, with Elliott – who only turned 19 this year – now one of Liverpool’s first-choice midfield options.
Elliott, however, can no longer boast the title of youngest to make a Premier League appearance, after his record was broken in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Brentford on Sunday.
Eyebrows were raised when the Gunners named 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri to the bench, with the midfielder born in March 2007.
At 15 years and 181 days, Ethan Nwaneri becomes the youngest player in #PL history! ?#BREARS | @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/7gepwExUaD
– Premier League (@premierleague) September 18, 2022
And with the Gunners sailing to another victory to overtake Man City at the top of the table, manager Mikel Arteta seized the opportunity to introduce Nwaneri to action in the closing stages.
At 15 years and 181 days, he beats Elliott’s record by 214 days and is the first 15-year-old to appear in the Premier League.
When Elliott set the record, he surpassed fellow Fulham academy graduate Matthew Briggs, who was 16 years and 68 days old when he made his first-team debut in May 2007.
Former Chelsea striker Izzy Brown and Aaron Lennon are the other two players who make up the five youngest players in Premier League history.
Elliott won’t be too disappointed, with these records meaningless unless players establish successful careers at the highest level.
And that is what Elliott is well on his way to doing, having appeared in every game Liverpool have played so far this season, and doing so as one of the Reds’ standout players.
He scored his first league goal for the Reds in their 9-0 win over Bournemouth last month.
After playing as a right-sided attacker for most of his youth career, Elliott has moved into a central midfield role in recent years.
He will spend the next two weeks with the England under-21 team, amid reports that he was not far from being included in Gareth Southgate’s first team.
Continue at this rate, and it won’t be long until you make the cut.
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