Five youngest players to play for Liverpool

One of the oldest sides in the history of the English Premier League, Liverpool has always been at the forefront of giving youngsters a chance to prove themselves since its inception. The Kirkby Academy has always been at the forefront of building the first team for Liverpool. While there have been times when Liverpool managers shied away from using the players from the academy, Jurgen Klopp, in recent years, unearthed the gems from the academy who have gone on to make 200+ appearances for the club.

Under the German’s tenure at Anfield, over 40 youngsters made it to the first team. Few players have donned the Liverpool jersey at a very young age and have gone on to become utility players and star players for the side. On the other hand, there have been a few, who have failed to live up to the hype but have been successful, elsewhere.

Here are the five youngest players to play for Liverpool in their history. 

1. Jerome Sinclair - 16 years and 6 days 

The Carabao Cup, called the EFL Cup, is known as the testing ground for the clubs to debut their uprising stars and Liverpool did the same with Jerome Sinclair in 2012. The center-forward made his debut against Wigan Athletic in the third round of the campaign. Jerome Sinclair came on as a substitute for Samed Yesil in the 81st minute. Though he did make his club debut at the age of 16, but only made four appearances after that for Liverpool. 

After his short-lived Liverpool stint, he went on to ply his trade for the likes of Wigan Athletic, Watford, Birmingham City, Sunderland, Oxford United in the United Kingdom and also abroad, Venlo and CSKA Sofia, but he could not succeed in the sport. At the age of 27, the player hung up his boots and currently runs a fried chicken shop in Birmingham. 

2. Rio Ngumoha - 16 years, 4 months and 15 days

From day 1 on the pitch, Rio Ngumoha made history for his club. The English attacking player became the youngest player to start the game for Liverpool when he made his debut under Arne Slot in the third-round fixture of the FA Cup against Accrington Stanley. He starred in the game against the League Two side, making attacking contributions.

In the ongoing U18 Premier League season, Rio Ngumoha has seven appearances and two assists to his name. The high voltage player, who is a live wire in the midfield, snubbed Chelsea academy, the Cobham, and chose Kirkby Academy, bringing pleasure to Liverpool fans. The fans would want him to leave a long-lasting impact at the club. 

3. Harvey Elliott - 16 years, 5 months and 21 days

One of the players who grew under Jurgen Klopp's tutelage, Harvey Elliott made his debut on September 25, 2019, against MK Dons in the EFL Cup fixture. He started on the right flank of the attacking trio comprising Brewster and Jones. He played the entire ninety minutes and shined in the game. 

Over the last five years, the Chertsey-born player has featured in over 81 top-flight appearances and 33 starts. In these games, he has 12 G/A to his name. Across all competitions, he has featured in over 129 games and 67 starts for his side. He already has an FA Cup, two EFL Cups, and one UEFA Super Cup to his name and would want to add a Premier League and Champions League title in the ongoing campaign, considering Liverpool’s form. 

4. Trey Nyoni - 16 years, 7 months and 29 days

Leicester-born but rising through the ranks of Kirkby Academy, Trey Nyoni became the fourth youngest player to feature for Liverpool. When he came on for Harvey Elliott in February 2024, he had big boots to fill, considering Elliott's performance in recent seasons. 

Trey Nyoni made his debut against Southampton in the FA Cup fixture in the 78th minute at Anfield. In the English top flight, he made it into the squad last year and is yet to get his Premier League debut. The player of tall stature, confident in possession, and understanding of the game, Trey Nyoni, will be a great asset for the side that is press-resistant and plays attractive football. 

5. Jack Robinson - 16 years, 8 months and 7 days 

Until Jerome Sinclair made his Premier League debut in 2012, Jack Robinson was the youngest player to make his Premier League debut for Liverpool. He made his Premier League debut against Hull City in 2010 as a central defender. He came on in the 87th minute when his side was heading for a draw. 

While he struggled at Liverpool with only one start and three Premier League appearances, he had a career across multiple English clubs where he shined and made a respectable career in the sport. Over 15 years in England, the 30-year-old has featured in over 293 top-flight games (Premier League and Championships). He also appeared in one Europa League fixture as part of Liverpool. His best Premier League finish post-Liverpool has been 9th, under Chris Wilder in the 2019/20 season.