Youngest goalscorers in Premier League history

Whisper it quietly, but Arne Slot may have unearthed a gem at Anfield.

16-year-old Rio Ngumoha stepped off the bench to spare the blushes of the reigning Premier League title-holders who appeared to have surrendered a two goal lead against 10-man Newcastle United on an emotionally-charged evening in the North East.

Whilst all of the talk centred around wantaway striker Alexander Isak in the build-up to kick-off, it was the name of the previously unheralded teenager who was grabbing all of the post-match attention.

Having signed from Chelsea in the summer of 2024, the England youth international was thrust on for his senior debut by Arne Slot six minutes into stoppage time, and needed just a matter of seconds to announce himself onto the Premier League stage.

But where does he rank in terms of the youngest goalscorers in the competition's history?

Find out below...

Youngest goalscorers in Premier League history

No.1 - James Vaughan (16 years, 270 days)

Everton v Crystal Palace, Apr 10, 2005

The youngest ever scorer of a Premier League goal is Everton's James Vaughan, who scored the final goal for the Toffees in a 4-0 home win over Crystal Palace in April 2005.

The 87th-minute strike came on his debut for the club but he would go on to score only six more league goals for Everton.

No.2 - James Milner (16 years, 356 days)

Leeds United v Sunderland, Dec 26, 2002

Current Premier League fans might think of James Milner as a wily old veteran, but he was once a precocious talent and was the previous holder of the Premier League's youngest scorer accolade after his Boxing Day strike for Leeds against Sunderland in 2002.

Milner was just nine days short of his 17th birthday then, but he is still playing in the Premier League some 22 and a bit years later, currently with Brighton after spells with Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool.

No.3 - Wayne Rooney (16 years, 360 days)

Everton v Arsenal, Oct 19, 2002

There was a huge buzz around the potential of a youngster called Wayne Rooney when he first emerged from Everton's academy.

The 16-year-old had already scored twice in a League Cup game at Wrexham when he bagged his first Premier League goal against Arsenal with a superb late winner against the champions in October 2002.

The feat briefly took him to the top of this list before he was overtaken by Milner a couple of months later.

No.4 - Rio Ngumoha - 16 years, 361 days

Liverpool v Newcastle, Aug 25, 2025

Cometh the hour, cometh the man, Rio Ngumoha marked his senior bow in electric fashion, whipping home a stupendous strike to secure Liverpool a dramatic last-minute winner against Newcastle United on matchday two of the 2025/26 campaign.

Arne Slot introduced the young England starlet deep into injury time at St James' Park and he marked his arrival with a timely winner to break the hearts of vast majority of those on the Toon.

No.5 - Cesc Fabregas (17 years, 112 days)

Arsenal v Blackburn, Aug 25, 2004

The Arsenal and Spain star showcased his potential with a goal against Blackburn in August 2004 as the previous year's Invincibles team also made an unbeaten start to the following season.

Cesc Fabregas moved on to play for Barcelona, Chelsea and Monaco, as well as earning 110 caps for Spain - he remains the youngest non-English scorer in the Premier League.

Is Rio Ngumoha the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history?

Despite notching his maiden goal as a 16-year-old, Rio Ngumoha is not the youngest goalscorer in the Premier League.

He features in the top five however, sitting in fourth spot, below James Vaughan, James Milner and Wayne Rooney.

1. James Vaughan (16 years, 270 days)
2. James Milner (16 years, 356 days)
3. Wayne Rooney (16 years, 360 days)
4. Rio Ngumoha (16 years, 361 days)
5. Cesc Fabregas (17 years, 112 days)