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(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media/Imago)
Alex Oakhill
Sun 24 August 2025 21:00, UK
Max Dowman became the second-youngest Premier League debutant of all time during Arsenal’s clash with Leeds United at the Emirates.
The 15-year-old came on for summer signing Noni Madueke in the 64th minute, and helped the Gunners to a 5-0 win over Leeds.
Jurrien Timber and Viktor Gyokeres both grabbed braces for Mikel Arteta’s side, with Bukayo Saka smashing home his first goal of the new campaign.
Dowman impressed for Arsenal when he came on, and even won a 95th minute penalty, which Gyokeres duly converted.
However, the attacker is not the youngest ever Premier League player, so who has beaten him to top spot?
Saka found the net against Leeds (Credit Imago)
Matthew Briggs made his Premier League debut for Fulham back in 2007, just 68 days after his 16th birthday.
The left-back came off the bench in the 77th minute of a game against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium, and at the time was the youngest Premier League player ever.
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Briggs only made a further 12 league appearances for Fulham, and had spells at Millwall and Colchester United before retiring in 2023.
Harvey Elliott had turned 16 just a month before making his Premier League debut for Fulham, as an 88th-minute substitute in a 1-0 defeat to Wolves.
Just over two months later, the attacker was signed by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, where he has remained ever since.
This summer, Elliott has been linked with a move away from Anfield, with clubs in England and Germany interested in his signature.
Elliott joined Liverpool at 16 (Credit: Imago)
Last season, Jeremy Monga made his Premier League debut for Leicester City at the age of just 15, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute during a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United.
The Foxes’ relegation to the Championship from the top-flight was confirmed at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, but the winger has remained at the King Power.
Earlier this month (16 August), Monga scored his first professional goal for Leicester during their 2-1 defeat to Preston North End.
Dowman slots into second place on the all-time list of youngest Premier League debutants, missing out on top spot by around 70 days.
The 15-year-old is very highly rated within Arsenal, and it comes as little surprise that he has broken into the senior side so quickly.
Arteta has been tipped to look after Dowman by former Gunners attacker Theo Walcott, who also came through at a young age.
Nwaneri pips Dowman to top spot (Credit: Imago)
Despite Dowman’s performance against Leeds, Arsenal teammate Ethan Nwaneri remains the youngest Premier League player of all time, making his first appearance at 15 years and 181 days old.
Nwaneri made his league debut back in 2022, as a stoppage-time substitute for Fabio Viera during a 3-0 win over Brentford.
The now 18-year-old has gone on to make another 29 league appearances for Arsenal and signed a new long-term contract at the Emirates earlier this month.
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