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) |
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 |
19-164 |
27/11/2021 |
Leeds United |
PL (level 1) |
|
Khadra, Reda |
19-193 |
13/01/2021 |
Manchester City |
PL (level 1) |
|
Connolly, Aaron |
19-215 |
31/08/2019 |
Manchester City |
PL (level 1) |
|
Lamptey, Tariq |
19-267 |
23/06/2020 |
Leicester City |
PL (level 1) |