Top 10 youngest debutants in UEFA Youth League

These players made a very early debut in the competition.

The UEFA Youth League is an annual Football competition, contested by the Youth teams of the teams playing In the UEFA Champions League group stage, plus the domestic youth champions of the best-ranked national associations. The competition first began in 2013 and has since been a much-precedented competition, which gives youngsters the perfect stage to showcase their abilities and come into the limelight.

Though the competition is only for the Under 19 players, with the average age often being 17 years, there have been players down the years, who’ve made it to the competition at an incredibly young age. Here are some of those players.

10. Aljaz Strajnar (15 years 29 days)

The young Slovenian goalkeeper made his debut for NK Domzale U19s when he started for his team in between the sticks against Young Boys FC U19s. Although NK Domzale lost the game 3-0, Strajnar really made a name for himself, by playing in the Youth League at such a young age.

9. Mikey Moore (15 years 27 days)

Tottenham Hotspur U19s, grabbed the media’s attention when they played their talented and promising youngster Mikey Moore against Marseille U19s on the 7th of September 2022. Mikey has since made four more appearances in the league but is still to get his goal. When it comes to the Premier League U18, Mikey has had 6 goal contributions in 7 games, which is an amazing statistic, given his young age.

8. Mile Svilar (15 years 20 days)

The Serbian goalkeeper, who is currently the second-choice goalkeeper of AS Roma, was introduced to European football for the very first time on 16th September 2014, when he started for RSC Anderlecht U19 in their matchup against Galatasaray U19s. Mile at that time, made history by becoming the youngest player ever to feature in the UEFA Youth League

7. Abdoulaye Kamara (14 years 11 months 16 days)

The thought of playing in Europe’s premier U19 tournament at the age of 14, is rather unimaginable. But some players have been able to achieve this tremendous feat, and Kamara is one of them. The French midfielder made his debut against Club Brugge U19s in 2019, when he started for Paris Saint-Germain U19s. Kamara is currently with Dortmund’s B team and is working his way to making it to the first team.

6. Evan Ferguson (14 years 11 months 13 days)

The Young Irish centre-forward, was only 14 years and 11 months old when he made his UEFA Youth League debut for Bohemian FC U19s against POAK U19s. Ferguson is currently playing for Brighton and Hove Albion’s B team in Premier League 2, as a promising future awaits the youngster.

5. Dashmir Elezi (14 years 10 months 11 days)

Elezi is a North Macedonian Centre Forward, who made his debut in the UEFA Youth League for Shkendija Tetovo U19s on 2nd October 2019, when they faced Dynamo Kyiv. Aged 18, Elezi now plays in Macedonia’s top flight for Shkendija. He has so far made 13 appearances for the team and has also scored a goal.

4. Shola Shoreitre (14 years 10 months 10 days)

Shola made his debut in the Youth League, for Manchester United U19s, on the 12th of December 2018 against Villareal. With his pace and incredible ball control, Shola poses danger to the opposition from the wings. He is currently playing for United’s B team and is looking to make his presence in the main team.

3. Brad Manguelle (14 years 10 months 8 days)

The Belgian teenager, who plays for KRC GENK U19s, made his first appearance in the UEFA Youth League this season, against Slavia Prague U19s. Brad plays in the Centre Back position for his team. He has had an impressive season so far and is surely one of the players to look out for in the future. 

2. Youssoufa Moukoko (14 years 9 months 28 days)

Moukoko doesn’t need any introduction, as the youngster had already made his presence known to the entire footballing world when he became the youngest player to ever play in the UEFA Champions League. The teenage sensation made his UEFA Youth League debut against Barcelona when he started for Borussia Dortmund. Moukoko’s career has since been on a constant rise, as he made his way into Dortmund’s first team aged 16 and is currently a regular starter for the club. 

1. Sverre Halseth Nypan (14 years 9 months 11 days)

The young Norwegian midfielder, became the youngest player to ever play in the UEFA Youth League, when he came on as a substitute for Rosenborg BK U19s, in their match against Midtjylland U19s. Nypan currently plays in the Norwegian top division, for Rosenborg, and still holds his esteemed record, as the Youngest debutant in the UEFA Youth League History.