After Manchester United named the third youngest starting XI in Premier League history for their meeting with Brentford in May 2024-25, we look at the youngest Premier League teams in history.
The 10 Youngest Premier League Starting XIs
Middlesbrough vs Fulham on 7 May 2006 – 20 years, 181 days Arsenal vs Portsmouth on 2 May 2009 – 22 years, 237 days Manchester United vs Brentford on 4 May 2025 – 22 years, 270 days Manchester United vs Crystal Palace on 23 May 2017 – 22 years 284 days Arsenal vs Sunderland on 11 May 2008 – 22 years, 315 days Leeds United vs Manchester United on 21 October 2000 – 22 years, 341 days Manchester City vs Aston Villa on 17 August 2008 – 22 years, 360 days Chelsea vs Crystal Palace on 27 December 2023 – 23 years, 21 days Burnley vs Liverpool on 10 February 2024 – 23 years, 75 days Burnley vs Arsenal on 17 February 2024 – 23 years, 82 days1. 20 Years, 181 Days – Fulham 1-0 MIDDLESBROUGH, 7 May 2006
The youngest starting XI in Premier League history was named by Middlesbrough against Fulham back in May 2006 with an average age of 20 years and 181 days. It remains younger on average than any other lineup by more than two years.
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren, who had only a few days earlier been appointed the next England manager, felt it was necessary to rest as many of his regulars as possible with the UEFA Cup final on the horizon, meaning the kids got a run-out.
They may not have had enough to get a result at Craven Cottage, but McClaren was “proud” to field a largely homegrown side in a time when Middlesbrough’s academy was very highly regarded.
Fifteen of the 16 players in their squad that day were born within 30 miles of the Riverside Stadium, while Lee Cattermole would become the club’s youngest-ever captain.
Many Middlesbrough fans will point to this being the last fully English starting XI in Premier League history based on nation of birth, but unfortunately for Boro, James Morrison was capped by Scotland two years later in May 2008.
That means their total of 11 English players is downgraded to 10 and it means that Aston Villa’s starting XI versus Coventry City on 27 February 1999 remains the last with all 11 being English.
This was McClaren’s last Premier League match in charge of the club – his tenure ended the following week with a 4-0 defeat to Sevilla in the UEFA Cup showpiece.
Middlesbrough Starting XI: Ross Turnbull, Andrew Davies, Matthew Bates, David Wheater, Andrew Taylor, James Morrison, Jason Kennedy, Lee Cattermole, Malcolm Christie, Danny Graham, Adam Johnson.
2. 22 Years, 237 Days – Portsmouth 0-3 ARSENAL, 2 May 2009
The second-youngest Premier League team ever was named by Arsenal three years later, though the average age was more than two years older than that Middlesbrough side.
Arsène Wenger was already renowned for his ability to develop talented young players, but after the construction of Emirates Stadium left insufficient funds to sign superstars, the manager had to rely increasingly on players with potential.
This was the youngest starting lineup Wenger ever fielded in the Premier League, with Theo Walcott, Denilson, Aaron Ramsey and Carlos Vela among those in the side.
On this occasion, they did enough to earn a comfortable victory to extend their unbeaten run at the time to 21 league games and secure Champions League football for the 2009-10 season, with Nicklas Bendtner (two) and Vela getting the goals.
Arsenal Starting XI: Lukasz Fabianski, Bacary Sagna, Alex Song, Johan Djourou, Emmanuel Eboué, Theo Walcott, Denilson, Aaron Ramsey, Andrey Arshavin, Nicklas Bendtner, Carlos Vela.
3. 22 Years, 270 Days – Brentford 4-3 MANCHESTER UNITED, 4 May 2025
Manchester United named their youngest ever Premier League starting XI for the trip to Brentford in May 2025. At just 22 years and 270 days old, it broke their club record in the competition by 14 days.
With the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Athletic Club just four days away, head coach Ruben Amorim rested many of his regulars and started two teenagers in Chido Obi and Harry Amass. Obi became the youngest player to start a Premier League game for United, at just 17 years and 156 days old.
The United starting XI had only made 630 Premier League appearances combined before the match, with the oldest player in the team, Luke Shaw (29y, 296d), making 256 of those. Mason Mount (157) was the only other to have made over 100 appearances in the competition.
United went on to lose a game that they had led in for the first time in the 2024-25 Premier League, with Brentford eventually winning 4-3.
Man Utd Starting XI: Altay Bayindir, Luke Shaw, Matthijs de Ligt, Tyler Fredricson, Harry Amass, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, Patrick Dorgu, Alejandro Garnacho, Mason Mount, Chido Obi.
4. 22 Years, 284 Days – MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 Crystal Palace, 21 May 2017
Man Utd’s most successful era in the Premier League was defined by a group of young players who came through their academy and led the club to a host of trophies; that may not be the case for this particular team that faced Palace in May 2017, but it’s fitting that they take a place in the top 10.
This was the final match in a largely disappointing Premier League campaign, as United finished sixth. Nevertheless, it was still a day to remember for a few young players as Joel Pereira, Demetri Mitchell, Scott McTominay and Josh Harrop were all given their debuts.
Harrop even got on the scoresheet, while Angel Gomes became the club’s youngest ever Premier League player at 16 years and 263 days old with his late introduction for Wayne Rooney in his final league match for the club.
José Mourinho’s decision to ring the changes was largely down to United taking part in the UEFA Europa League final a few days later – they beat Ajax to lift that trophy, salvaging a hint of dignity at the end of an unimpressive season.
Man Utd Starting XI: Joel Pereira, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Demetri Mitchell, Scott McTominay, Axel Tuanzebe, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Josh Harrop, Wayne Rooney.
5. 22 Years, 315 Days – Sunderland 0-1 ARSENAL, 11 May 2008
Arsenal appear in the top five twice as boss Wenger was the real-life embodiment of many Football Manager players’ dreams for a few years.
While this era might not be seen as especially successful for the Gunners and Wenger, his young guns were in the running for the Premier League nearly all season, finishing only four points behind a Man Utd side spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.
“Quality-wise, we’ve been remarkable the whole season. We lost a 100m race by a fraction of a second,” Wenger said after this win over Sunderland. “It doesn’t mean we have not made a good 100m. To have a great 100m, you need three or four who compete for the final place.”
Walcott got Arsenal’s winner in this game, which very much had an end-of-season vibe to it with Sunderland also already having confirmed their safety.
Arsenal Starting XI: Lukasz Fabianski, Alex Song, Philippe Senderos, Johan Djourou, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Eboué, Denilson, Gilberto Silva, Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor, Nicklas Bendtner.
Subscribe to our football newsletter to receive exclusive weekly content. You should also follow our social accounts over on X, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
The Youngest Starting XIs in Premier League History Opta Analyst.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The Youngest Starting XIs in Premier League History )
Also on site :