Ethan Nwaneri: Arsenal schoolboy, 15, becomes youngest ever Premier League player

Born in 2007, Nwaneri becomes the first 15-year-old to play in the Premier League

Ethan Nwaneri made his Arsenal debut as a 90th minute substitute (Getty Images)

Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri has made history by becoming the youngest ever Premier League player at the age of 15 years and 181 days.

Born in 2007, Nwaneri came on as a 90th minute substitute in Arsenal’s 3-0 win against Brentford.

In doing so, the England youth international became the first ever 15-year-old to play in the Premier League.

Nwaneri broke the previous record set by the Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, who appeared for Fulham at the age of 16 years and 30 days in 2019.

Nwaneri, who is an attacking midfielder, has impressed at youth level and got the chance to make the bench after injuries to Arsenal’s first-team squad.

The Brentford fans responded by signing: “He’s got school in the morning”.

Nwaneri had already made several appearances for Arsenal’s Under-18s team, as well as England’s Under-16s.

Nwaneri was born after Arsenal moved into their current stadium, the Emirates, and three years after their last Premier League title.

Arsenal were in a comfortable position and were winning 3-0 when manager Mikel Arteta made the historic change.

Arteta admitted it was a “pure gut feeling” to hand Nwaneri his debut but said he had earned his opportunity.

“I met the boy and I really liked what I saw,” Arteta said after Arsenal returned to the top of the table.

“He trained with us a couple of times. I had that feeling yesterday that if the opportunity could come, I would do it. He deserves it."