EPL Names 12 Top Teenage Stars in History

The Premier League has named 12 of the best teenage talents ever, asking fans to vote for the greatest wonderkid. This came after a look at players who shone before hitting 20.

Our reporter got this list from a feature on the EPL website on Wednesday.

The players include Nicolas Anelka, Gareth Bale, Cesc Fabregas, Phil Foden, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, and Junior Kroupi.

Anelka, Fabregas, Bale

1. Anelka joined Arsenal’s first team at 18. He helped the Gunners win the Premier League and FA Cup double. Later, he won the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid. He returned to England to win another league title, the Golden Boot, and two FA Cups with Chelsea.

1. Bale made his debut for Southampton at 16 before moving to Tottenham Hotspur. There, he changed from left-back to one of the league's top attacking players. He then made a world-record move to Real Madrid.

1. Fabregas became the youngest player and goalscorer in Arsenal's history. Those records were later broken by Max Dowman. The Spaniard became a first-team regular before turning 18. He won league titles with Barcelona and Chelsea, the FIFA World Cup, and two UEFA European Championships with Spain.

Fowler, Gerrard, Foden

1. Foden played his first game for Manchester City at 17 and won the Premier League in his first season. Since then, he has won six league titles, two PFA Young Player of the Year awards, and was part of City’s Treble-winning team in 2022/23.

1. Liverpool star Fowler became a great goalscorer after debuting at 18. He had back-to-back seasons with 30 goals and ended with 163 Premier League goals for the Reds.

1. Gerrard also debuted for Liverpool at 18. He became a key player in the club’s midfield. He won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, two FA Cups, and three League Cups during his 17-year time at Anfield.

Ronaldo, Owen, Rooney

1. Ronaldo came to Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon for a record fee for a teenager. He won the FA Cup in his first season. Later, he helped the club win three straight Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. He also won his first Ballon d’Or award.

1. Rooney made a name for himself with a stunning goal for Everton against Arsenal at 16. He became the third player to score over 200 Premier League goals, earning several major trophies with Manchester United.

1. Owen scored on his Liverpool debut at 17. He became the club's youngest goalscorer and won back-to-back Premier League Golden Boots. He later won the Ballon d’Or and a Premier League title with Manchester United.

Saka, Rashford, Kroupi

1. Saka moved through Arsenal’s academy before debuting at 17. He became an important player under Mikel Arteta and helped Arsenal end a 22-year wait for the Premier League title in the 2025/26 season.

1. Rashford burst onto the scene at Manchester United at 18. He scored twice on his Europa League debut and netted another two against Arsenal three days later. He finished his first season with the FA Cup and later helped the club win the League Cup and Europa League.

1. Kroupi became the first teenager in over 20 years to score 10 goals in his debut Premier League season. The AFC Bournemouth forward ended the 2025/26 season with 13 league goals, breaking the record for a teenage debutant. He surpassed the previous record held by Fowler and Robbie Keane.