Ferguson joins select group after Premier League debut

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Albion's five youngest Premier League players have all been given their chance by Graham Potter.

Bruce Talbot

2022-02-23T05:00:00Z

Evan Ferguson contests a header against Burnley.

Evan Ferguson joined a select band of players against Burnley on Saturday when he became the first 17-year-old in the Premier League to play for Albion.

The Irishman was 17 years 123 days old when he came on in the second half, and as our chart shows he is more than two years younger than the next-youngest Jeremy Sarmiento, who came on against Leeds United at the Amex earlier this season.

Graham Potter’s commitment to giving youngsters their chance is illustrated by the fact that Albion’s five youngest Premier League debutants have all come during his time in charge.

Albion's top ten youngest players

Name

Age

First Game

Opponents

Competition

Forster-Caskey, Jake

16-013

08/05/2010

Yeovil Town

FL One (level 3)

Fox, Simon

16-238

23/04/1994

Fulham

FL D2 (level 3)

Chapman, Ian

16-259

14/02/1987

Birmingham City

FL D2 (level 2)

McPhee, Chris

16-273

18/12/1999

Swansea City

FL D3 (level 4)

Ferguson, Evan

16-309

24/08/2021

Cardiff City

FLC R2

Tilley, James

16-323

02/05/2015

Middlesbrough

FL Champ (level 2)

Robinson, Jake

16-336

24/09/2003

Middlesbrough

FLC R2

McGarrigle, Kevin

17-028

07/05/1994

Port Vale

FL D2 (level 3)

Conway, Mick

17-048

28/04/1973

Nottingham Forest

FL D2 (level 2)

Busby, Dave

17-085

20/10/1973

Shrewsbury Town

FL D3 (level 3)

Jeremy Sarmiento tries to bring the ball under control.

Ferguson became Albion’s fifth-youngest debutant in all competitions when he played against Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season.

Jake Forster-Caskey remains Albion’s recognised youngest debutant at 16 years 13 days back in 2010 against Yeovil Town in League One, but club historian Tim Carder points out that a couple of 15-year-olds represented the club in unofficial matches during the Second World War.

Tim said, “Reg Bowles played at the age of 15 in a wartime game,and two 16-year-olds, Stan Willemse and Charlie Chase, also played then. These are not usually counted as "first-class" games as unregistered players were allowed, but they were first-team competitive games.”

Five youngest Premier League players

Name

Age

First Game

Opponents

Competition

Ferguson, Evan

17-123

19/02/2022

Burnley

PL (level 1)

Sarmiento, Jeremy