With two matchdays about to be completed in the Premier League and La Liga, here are the youngest players who have started a game for their clubs.
Alejandro Garnacho – Manchester United | 19 Years Old and 1 Month
Garnacho joined United’s youth academy in 2020, two years later he made his debut for Manchester United’s first team in a 3-0 win over Sheriff Tiraspol. His big moment came when he set up Marcus Rashford for the match winner against the eventual league champions Man City in the Manchester Derby.
Later that season, unfortunately Garnacho picked up an injury which kept him out for almost two months. In May, he returned from injury and scored a goal against Wolves in a 2-0 win. He ended his Premier League season with 3 goals and 2 assists having played 19 games (he started just 5 of thos games and only played on average 30 minutes).
He has till now made 23 appearances for the club at the top level and has scored 3 goals.
Alejandro Garnacho has started both games for United this season but has been unable to make an impact.
Gavi – Barcelona | 19 Years Old
Gavi joined Barca at the age of 11 in 2015, five years later he signed his professional contract with Barcelona and started playing for their under 19 team.
In 2021 pre-season friendlies he impressed the then coach Ronald Koeman and eventually played his first match for Barcelona’s first team in a 2-1 win over Getafe. Next season, he continued to impress as he was awarded both the Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy for 2022.
He has become a consistent starter for the club and has made over 70 appearances.
In the league opener for Barca, Gavi sat on the bench which ended in a 0-0 draw. He started the next game for Barcelona against Cadiz.
Luca Koleosho – Burnley | 18 Years Old and 10 Months
Koleosho join Espanyol’s youth system in 2020 from Reus. He signed his professional contract with the club in 2021 for three seasons. After rising through the ranks he made his first team debut in a 0-0 draw with Granada last season.
Burnley bought Koleosho for a transfer fee of 2.6 million pounds as he signed a four year deal with the club.
He made his debut with the club in a 3-0 defeat to the reigning champions Manchester City.
Rico Lewis – Manchester City | 18 Years Old and 8 Months
Rico, a lifelong city fan, he joined the club’s academy at the age of eight. He led his under 18 team to the title while also winning the Under 18’s player of the year for his club as he made 17 appearances in their title winning run, scoring thrice and providing two assists.
He made his Premier League debut last year against Bournemouth as a substitute. In his first season with the club he started 10 games and in total played in 14 games as City went on to win the treble.
Rico started for Manchester City in their opener against Burnley on 11th August 2023. Next week he signed a new five year deal with the club which will keep him at Man City till 2028.
Lamine Yamal – Barcelona | 16 Years Old and 1 Month
A La Masia youth, Yamal along with a couple of other youngsters was selected by head coach of Barcelona to train with the first team last year. Xavi was impressed with Yamal as next year he made his first team debut for the club coming on as a substitute for Gavi in a 4-0 win against Real Betis.
Only being 15 years, 9 months and 16 days old, he became the youngest player to ever to play for Barcelona.
Yamal impressed in the Joan Gamper Trophy game against Spurs as he led his side to a 4-2 victory, assisting the equalizer as soon as he came on the pitch and was also involved in the other 2 goals for Barca.
He started the game against Cadiz and in doing so became the youngest player to start in La Liga in this century.
