Liverpool sign Premier League’s youngest ever player

Patrick McCarry

Liverpool’s second signing of the summer is another top, young prospect.

Harvey Elliott made his senior debut aged just 15 years and 174 days. 10 months on and he has joined Liverpool.

After Liverpool claimed the Champions League in May, and finished second to Manchester City in the league, most expected Jurgen Klopp to make some canny additions to strengthen the squad.

Klopp looks to be doing just that but signing teenage prospects to challenge the senior stars in the coming seasons. After landing 17-year-old Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg [below] in June, the Reds have now made Elliott their second summer signing.

Sepp van den Berg on the first day back of Liverpool’s pre-season at Melwood Training Ground on July 6. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The 16-year-old arrives at Anfield from Fulham after he made three senior appearances last season, including two in the Premier League. A statement from Liverpool FC reads:

‘The 16-year-old winger joins the club after making three senior appearances for the Cottagers last season. Elliott became the youngest debutant in Premier League history when he featured against Wolverhampton Wanderers – aged 16 years and 30 days – in May.

‘The England youth international will now be part of the Liverpool squad for Sunday’s friendly against Napoli in Edinburgh and the subsequent training camp in Evian.’

Regarding that training camp, Elliott will be joined there on Monday by the returning trio of Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah. Liverpool confirmed that the three players will be integrated into the pre-season sessions after they returned from Copa America [Becker and Firmino] and African Cup of Nations [Salah] duty.

Harvey Elliott took over the record of youngest ever Premier League player from Matthew Briggs, a former Fulham player too. In 2007, the defender made his league bow aged 16 and 68 days. He would go on to make 30 appearances for The Cottagers over seven seasons before dropping down the divisions.

Now aged 28, Briggs now plays for Maldon & Tiptree in Isthiman Division 1 North: