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Two youngsters have attracted attention during the opening weeks of the Premier League season.
On August 25, Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha made history by becoming only the second 16-year-old, following Wayne Rooney, to score the decisive goal in a Premier League match, doing so against Newcastle United.
Just two days prior, Arsenal's Max Dowman marked his debut in a victory over Leeds United, becoming the second-youngest player to ever participate in the Premier League at the age of 15.
While some early talents go on to have impressive careers, potential at a young age does not always equate to long-term success.
Steve Sallis, a well-known mentor and certified coach, has collaborated with notable players including Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid and England, Arsenal's Eberechi Eze, and Liverpool's Joe Gomez.
"Younger athletes should develop an identity beyond just football," Sallis shares with BBC Sport, in addition to his work as a PE teacher. "It’s essential to strive for their success in both academics and athletics while keeping in mind they are still children.
"Young individuals often do not recognize pressure. I’ve yet to meet one who has. The less they dwell on it at that stage, the more beneficial it is. Ensuring that safeguarding and welfare systems are in place is key.
"There are numerous factors that could prevent them from reaching their early potential, including excessive demands, financial distractions, and the tough realities of professional football.
"Through my experiences with clubs and organizations like Uefa, I can affirm that player care has become significantly more important now than it was a decade ago."
Andy Turner
Club: Tottenham
Debut: August 15, 1992
Premier League appearances: 20
Goals: 3
The former winger Turner became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history at 17 years and 166 days, netting a late winner for Tottenham against Everton on September 5, 1992, shortly after the competition's inaugural season began. His record lasted nearly five years before Michael Owen surpassed it at Liverpool.
After making his debut in 1992 when the team was managed by Terry Venables, Doug Livermore, and Ray Clemence, Turner lost his place under Ossie Ardiles. A significant ankle injury subsequently led him on a winding career path with many loan moves throughout the Football League.
"Whenever a young player scores, it’s something people often bring up with me," Turner, who is currently the head of development at Hednesford Town, relays to BBC Sport. "It's nice to reflect on and understand how those in that situation feel.
"Seeing Rio Ngumoha score brought back memories of my own experience. He performed impressively during pre-season and seized his opportunity, much like I did when given a chance in the first team. He came off the bench and scored in the dying moments, just as I did."
Emerging athletes must possess a certain level of skill, and these individuals are exceptional talents. During my time with Spurs, I received excellent guidance. I was informed about my participation in advance, my family was kept in the loop, and there was a clear strategy in place.
On the night before my debut, Mr. Venables called my father, emphasizing the importance of staying in and getting a good night's sleep, as I was set to play on Saturday. He was a remarkable individual; whenever I faced difficulties, he would invite me to his office and offer me a cup of tea.
Towards the end of that season, we suffered a 6-2 defeat against Liverpool, but I did not play in that match. He brought me to the center of the field and remarked, "It's great here, isn't it?" He instructed me to meet him on Monday to discuss a new long-term contract. Tragically, by that morning, he had been dismissed.
James Vaughan
Club: Everton
Debut: April 10, 2005
Premier League appearances: 51
Goals: 7
More than two decades have passed since Vaughan's unforgettable debut goal for Everton against Crystal Palace, and he still holds the record as the youngest scorer in Premier League history at 16 years and 270 days. At that time, he received a pay increase of £10 per week.
However, a series of injuries hindered his career at Goodison Park. He netted only six more league goals while with Everton but later experienced success with teams like Huddersfield, Bury, and Bradford, among others.
"In retrospect, I don't think I coped particularly well," Vaughan shared with The Athletic regarding his time at Everton. "I became withdrawn and spent a lot of time at home.
"I preferred to avoid public outings. Attention was something I disliked. If I thought I might encounter someone who would recognize me, I would try to stay away. Seeking attention was not looked upon favorably at Everton.
"After returning home, I would watch Match of the Day and see myself featured. I recall my mother calling me to say she was being pursued by the press while in Birmingham. It felt overwhelming."
Michael Johnson
Club: Manchester City
Debut: 21 October 2006
Premier League appearances: 37
Goals: 2
Box-to-box midfielder Johnson made his City debut under the management of Stuart Pearce and was expected to emerge as a key player for both his club and the national team.
Nevertheless, a series of long-lasting injuries impacted his career significantly. During his final three seasons with the club, he made just four league appearances, and his attempt to revive his career through a loan at Leicester was unsuccessful.
In 2013, at the age of 24, he was released by City, after which he exited football and began working as an estate agent. He later revealed that he had been attending a clinic for several years to address mental health challenges.
In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, he expressed, "I'd appreciate some privacy to live out the remainder of my life."
Matthew Briggs
Club: Fulham
Debut: 13 May 2007
Premier League appearances: 13
Goals: 0
At 16 years and 68 days, left-back Briggs became the fifth-youngest player to feature in the Premier League.
He played 13 league matches for the Cottagers before pursuing a diverse football career, which included 17 international caps for Guyana.
Reflecting on his experiences in a 2019 BBC Sport interview, Briggs admitted, "I don’t believe I handled it particularly well — from the moment of my debut, everything seemed to decline and the pressure became overwhelming."
"It's difficult for me to revisit that time because I used to feel like I had failed — I despised wearing that label — but now I consider it something to take pride in."
"Don’t assume you deserve anything like I did just because you debuted at 16 — you must continually prove why you deserve to be there in the first place."
Jose Baxter
Club: Everton
Debut: 16 August 2008
Premier League appearances: 5
Goals: 0
Baxter followed in the footsteps of Wayne Rooney and James Vaughan, becoming Everton's youngest first-team player at 16 years and 191 days when he appeared against West Brom.
However, he accumulated only five Premier League appearances overall before finding success later in his playing career at Oldham and Sheffield United.
In a candid conversation with Sport, he opened up about his drug use during his playing days and struggles with depression.
Baxter shared, "I was living in a bubble, earning a substantial amount of money at a young age. I was unaware of boundaries concerning spending, going out, and making poor choices."
Federico Macheda
Club: Manchester United
Debut: 5 April 2009
Premier League appearances: 22
Goals: 4
Italian forward Macheda is likely the player on this list who made the most significant impression, netting a spectacular winning goal on his debut for Manchester United against Aston Villa.
Astoundingly, he scored another decisive goal against Sunderland just six days later, helping the Red Devils reclaim their position over Liverpool to rise to the top of the league, ultimately becoming champions.
Macheda recorded just two additional league goals for United but subsequently enjoyed a respectable career in the Championship, as well as in both Greece and Turkey.
Izzy Brown
Club: West Brom Debut: 4 May 2013 Premier League appearances: 15 Goals: 0
Brown made his debut for West Brom against Wigan at the young age of 16 years and 117 days, placing him sixth on the list of the youngest players ever in Premier League history. That match marked his only appearance for the club.
The forward later transferred to Chelsea, where he added one more top-tier match to his record, followed by loan periods at several clubs, including a time in the Premier League with Brighton. He retired in 2023 at 26 years old due to an Achilles injury.
Despite his premature retirement, he expressed on social media that he had "experienced the dream that many never have the chance to realize," and for this, he felt "eternally grateful."
Reece Oxford
Club: West Ham Debut: 9 August 2015 Premier League appearances: 8 Goals: 0
Oxford holds the record as the youngest player to compete in West Ham's first team, having made his Premier League debut at 16 years and 237 days against Arsenal.
He saw limited action with only eight league appearances before continuing his career in the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach and Augsburg, the latter of which released him during the summer.
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