Even before Rio Ngumoha’s dramatic leap into history, the Premier League was already littered with teenage legends who stunned stadiums and headlines alike.
Below are the youngest-ever scorers in England’s top flight, how their careers evolved, and how fans and pundits still talk about them.
1. James Vaughan — 16 Y 270 D | Everton vs Crystal Palace, 2005
2. James Milner — 16 Y 356 D | Leeds vs Sunderland, 2002
3. Wayne Rooney — 16 Y 360 D | Everton vs Arsenal, 2002
4. Rio Ngumoha — 16 Y 361 D | Liverpool vs Newcastle, 2025
5. Cesc Fàbregas — 17 Y 113 D | Arsenal, 2004
Hitting the record books
James Vaughan holds the top spot. In April 2005, Everton’s 16-year-old debutant sealed a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace with a late goal at Goodison Park. At 16 years, 270 days, he became the youngest scorer in Premier League history, a record that still stands years later.
James Milner was next in line. On Boxing Day 2002, aged 16 years, 356 days, he scored for Leeds United at Sunderland, briefly stealing the youngest-scorer crown before Vaughan eclipsed it two years later.
Then came Wayne Rooney, 16 years and 360 days old, scoring a memorable injury-time winner against Arsenal, one that announced his arrival to the world.
Just behind him is Rio Ngumoha. On August 25, 2025, at 16 years, 361 days, he scored a stoppage-time winner for Liverpool against Newcastle. He’s now the fourth-youngest scorer in league history and Liverpool’s youngest ever.
To round out the top five, Cesc Fàbregas scored at 17 years, 113 days for Arsenal, then the youngest non-English scorer in league annals.
