In the world of football, the threshold for what constitutes as ‘young’ seems to be constantly evolving. As the sport progresses, the age at which players are making their senior debuts is getting significantly younger.

Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha is the latest teenage star to burst onto the scene, and his dramatic late winner for the Reds on debut will go down in history.

But where does he rank for youngest ever scorers? Fortunately, when it comes to ranking the top 10 youngest Premier League goalscorers, there’s no ambiguity – the facts and figures are all at our disposal. So, without further ado, here are the 10 youngest scorers in Premier League history.

Premier League’s youngest goalscorers

Rank

Player

Age

Date & Opponent

1

James Vaughan (Everton)

16 yrs, 270 days

Apr 2005 v Crystal Palace

2

James Milner (Leeds)

16 yrs, 356 days

Dec 2002 v Sunderland

3

Wayne Rooney (Everton)

16 yrs, 360 days

Oct 2002 v Arsenal

4

Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool)

16 yrs, 361 days

Aug 2025 v Newcastle

5

Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)

17 yrs, 113 days

Aug 2004 v Blackburn

6

Michael Owen (Liverpool)

17 yrs, 143 days

May 1997 v Wimbledon

7

Andy Turner (Tottenham)

17 yrs, 166 days

Sep 1992 v Everton

8

Federico Macheda (Man Utd)

17 yrs, 226 days

Apr 2009 v Aston Villa

9

Lewis Miley (Newcastle)

17 yrs, 229 days

Dec 2023 v Fulham

10

Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)

17 yrs, 247 days

Nov 2024 v Nottingham Forest

Data correct as of 26th August 2025

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Posts ByLewis Thompson 10 Ethan Nwaneri 17 years, 247 days v Nottingham Forest (2024)

Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri announced himself on the Premier League stage when grabbing his first goal in the competition four months shy of his 18th birthday.

Incredibly, Nwaneri had made his debut over two years prior to this, coming on as a late substitute during a Gunners win at Brentford in September 2022.

Now a part of the first team at the Emirates Stadium, Nwaneri has already shown a knack for goalscoring, with cutting inside onto his left turning into something of a trademark already.

Nwaneri’s first-time finish against Nottingham Forest was his fourth of the 2024/25 season for Arsenal, with three coming in the EFL Cup before breaking his Premier League duck.

9 Lewis Miley 17 years, 229 days v Fulham (2023)

Lewis Miley quickly emerged as a fan favourite on Tyneside after signing his first professional contract for Newcastle United in February 2023.

The technical midfielder became Newcastle’s youngest Premier League debutant when he appeared as a substitute in his side’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea on the 2022/23 season’s final day.

Over the course of the following campaign, Miley would go on to play 26 times for the Magpies, including two away games in the Champions League against PSG and Borussia Dortmund, plus a home tie versus AC Milan.

His first professional goal came in December 2023 in a 3-0 win over Fulham at St James’ Park. That knee slide in front of the Gallowgate End must have felt pretty sweet!

8 Federico Macheda 17 years, 226 days v Aston Villa (2009)

Once hailed as being Manchester United’s future star at Old Trafford, Federico Macheda burst onto the scene with a goal on his debut against Aston Villa in April 2009.

He was just three days younger than Miley when his two-touch strike made it 3-2 for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side after Cristiano Ronaldo had already bagged a brace.

Macheda’s goal essentially sealed the Premier League title for Man United on that day and he would go on to score the winner against Sunderland a week later. However, the Italian striker would only score five more goals for United.

Queens Park Rangers, Doncaster Rovers and Birmingham City were among a host of clubs who would welcome Macheda on loan from United, until his permanent transfer to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Cardiff City in 2014.

Since then, Macheda has played most of his football in Greece for Panathinaikos, scoring 36 goals in 106 appearances.

7 Andy Turner 17 years, 166 days v Everton (1992)

From one slightly unknown to an even lesser-known one:

Andy Turner became the youngest player to score a goal in the Premier League during its inaugural season in September 1992. The overall record, which has only been surpassed four times, stood for five years until a more recognisable 17-year-old named Michael Owen broke it.

The London-born Irishman’s goal came late in a 2-1 home win for Tottenham Hotspur against Everton. Throughout his 16-year career, Turner played for over 15 clubs. The attacking midfielder had loan spells at Wycombe Wanderers, Huddersfield Town and Southend United, along with stints at Crystal Palace and Wolves.

In a 2018 interview with Spurs, Turner mentioned that he runs a non-league academy in the Midlands. He also leads an educational academy under the Pro Direct Academy banner in Birmingham and was once the Under-13 academy coach at Port Vale.

6 Michael Owen 17 years, 143 days v Wimbledon (1997)

Like Turner, Michael Owen was once the Premier League’s youngest goalscorer for a period of five years.

Owen rose through Liverpool’s academy and the FA’s School of Excellence, where he broke numerous England youth goalscoring records. He played a key role in Liverpool winning their first FA Youth Cup in 1996 before joining the first team under Roy Evans and then Gerard Houllier.

In the penultimate game of the 1996/97 season, Owen scored on his debut as a substitute in a 2-1 defeat to Wimbledon, cementing his name in top-flight history.

The following season, the English forward was named PFA Young Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season. Owen also became the first Liverpool player and only the fourth Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or in 2001. He scored 158 goals in 297 appearances for Liverpool before moving to Real Madrid in 2004.

Injuries plagued Owen’s career, limiting him to one season at Real Madrid, where he scored 13 goals in 36 appearances. He later played for Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City before retiring in 2013.

5 Cesc Fabregas 17 years, 113 days v Blackburn (2004)

One of the greatest, most technical midfielders to ever grace the Premier League is also one of its youngest-ever goalscorers.

Cesc Fabregas moved from Barcelona to Arsenal in September 2003 for just shy of £3 million. He made over 200 appearances for the north London club before returning to his beloved Barcelona.

Shortly after becoming Arsenal’s youngest-ever first-team player at the age of 16, Fabregas scored his first Premier League goal in a 3-0 win over Blackburn in August 2004, poking home from a Gilberto Silva header in a game that saw Arsenal go a record 43rd top-flight match unbeaten.

The Spaniard had further success at Chelsea and Monaco before retiring at Como, the side he now manages in Italy’s Serie A.

4 Rio Ngumoha 16 yrs, 361 days v Newcastle (2025)

After signing for Liverpool from Chelsea’s academy in the summer of 2024, Rio Ngumoha quickly impressed those on Merseyside, beocming the second-youngest appearance-maker in the Reds’ history at the beginning of 2025.

He had to wait for his Premier League debut, though, but when it came against Newcastle United, Ngumoha made an instant impact. Sent on in injury time by Arne Slot after Liverpool surrendered a two-goal lead with a player advantage, the teenager calmy slotted home the winner ahead of his 17th birthday.

3 Wayne Rooney 16 years, 360 days v Arsenal (2002)

A name that needs no real explanation to emphasise his prolific goalscoring rate as a youngster.

Wayne Rooney captured headlines worldwide when his 25-yard stunner for Everton in October 2002 ended Arsenal’s 30-game unbeaten run in the Premier League. At just 16 years old, Rooney’s iconic goal marked the beginning of arguably the greatest-ever Premier League legacy.

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Rooney moved to Manchester United after just two seasons with the Toffees. He scored over 200 Premier League goals during his illustrious career before transitioning to management. He is the current manager of Plymouth Argyle in the Championship.

2 James Milner 16 years, 356 days v Sunderland (2002)

James Milner was just four days younger than Rooney when he scored his first Premier League goal against Sunderland in December 2002.

As a childhood fan of Leeds United, Milner began his career as a teenager there, making 48 appearances over two seasons.

Known as one of the most versatile footballers in Premier League history, Milner has excelled for multiple clubs, including Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton.

Ahead of the 2024/25 season, Milner only needs 20 more top-flight appearances to equal Gareth Barry’s record of 653. He has played in 22 seasons, 46 different stadiums and had 280 teammates during his Premier League career.

He has also won every English domestic trophy, as well as the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup with Liverpool.

1 James Vaughan 16 years, 270 days v Crystal Palace (2005)

James Vaughan is the Premier League’s youngest-ever goalscorer, but couldn’t quite follow in the footsteps of those who had gone before him.

Vaughan made history on his debut when he scored Everton’s fourth goal in a 4-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace at Goodison Park in April 2005. The result moved Everton four points clear of Liverpool in the race for Champions League qualification.

Everton reached the third qualifying round of the Champions League the following season but lost out to Villarreal. Ironically, Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League triumph meant they made it to the group stages for the following season’s competition via the qualifiers, where they reached the round of 16 before losing out to Benfica.

As for Vaughan, his record-breaking goal at the age of 16 was a highlight in a career that promised much but was hampered by injuries. He made just six appearances for Norwich City before joining Huddersfield in 2013. Vaughan also represented Sunderland, Wigan, Bradford and Tranmere before transitioning into a role off the pitch.

In March 2024, Vaughan was made the head of academy recruitment and player pathways at Everton. It seems likely that his record won’t stand forever in this day and age, but for now, it remains a remarkable achievement.

It’s incredible how quickly the mood can change in football, and West Ham United are a great example.

Following their third defeat in as many games at the start of the week, it felt like the club were destined for a dreadful season, but now, after a few brilliant signings, there is a sense of renewed optimism in some areas of the fanbase.

Now, there is still a lot of work for Graham Potter and Co to do before fans can get ahead of themselves, but the additions of Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa certainly help.

Moreover, if reports are to be believed, the club are in the market for more signings, including an international compared to Jude Bellingham.

West Ham target Bellingham-esque star

Even though the transfer window comes to a close on Monday evening, West Ham continue to be linked with a host of talented players.

Transfer Focus

Expand Collapse

For example, Feyenoord’s captain Quintien Timber could be available for just £25m and would add some steel to the middle of the park, and Conor Gallagher is now being touted for a return to the capital.

However, neither one of these brilliant players has been compared to the world-class Bellingham, unlike another international the Hammers are keen to sign.

At least that is according to a recent report from German publication BILD, which claims West Ham are very interested in Patrick Wimmer.

In exciting news, the report has revealed that the East Londoners are now expected to bid for the Wolfsburg player before the window closes.

It would certainly be a surprise move, but the £33k-per-week dynamo would be an excellent addition to Potter’s squad, especially as he’s been compared to Bellingham.

How Wimmer compares to Bellingham

Before exploring some of the other reasons West Ham should sign Wimmer this summer, it’s essential to examine this remarkable comparison to Bellingham and where it comes from.

In this instance, the analysis stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League, and the Europa League.

In this case, FBref has concluded that the Real Madrid star is the second most similar midfielder to the Wolfsburg ace.

Wimmer& Bellingham

Statistics per 90

Wimmer

Bellingham

Progressive Carries

2.34

2.68

Shots

2.08

2.17

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.17

1.12

Expected Assists

0.17

0.16

Key Passes

1.22

1.52

Shot-Creating Actions

3.61

3.80

Goal-Creating Actions

0.61

0.47

Successful Take-On %

53.6%

54.7%

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

The best way to understand how that conclusion was reached is by examining some of the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked closely.

These include metrics such as progressive carries, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-on percentage, key passes and more, all per 90.

These numbers paint the picture of an all-action player who can be a goal threat in his own right, but is also an effective creator for his team.

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In addition to this incredibly encouraging comparison to one of the best players in the world, the “wonderful” Austrian international, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is also an entertainer.

This is evident when watching his highlights, and while output is always going to be the most important thing, having a player in the side who can get the stadium on its feet is also hugely important.

Ultimately, it would be a surprise deal, but West Ham should do all they can to sign Wimmer before Monday evening, as he could provide the side with that bit more x-factor.

Related Fernandes upgrade: West Ham to submit bid for another big-money midfielder

The experienced international would be an excellent signing for Graham Potter and West Ham.

Posts 1 ByJack Salveson Holmes

Despite picking up both the FA Cup and Community Shield in quick succession, Oliver Glasner might well feel somewhat defeated from the Crystal Palace dug-out currently.

All of that recent success wasn’t enough to keep Eberechi Eze at Selhurst Park, who is now a £67.5m superstar at Arsenal, with Marc Guehi’s exit from East London also still looking to be on the cards as we head nearer to transfer deadline day.

With the clock ticking ever closer to September’s abrupt cut-off, the Austrian will be praying some positive additions come into the building, as a new midfield target now appears on their radar.

Crystal Palace lodge enquiry for £40k-p/w star

Away from all the talk about departures, it has been a rather subdued window to date at the Eagles.

Indeed, only Borna Sosa has actually cost Palace a fee this summer, and with the Selhurst Park bank account rising courtesy of Eze’s dramatic move to the Gunners, there will be hope that a major move or two is in the offing.

Of course, the main name taking up a large chunk of Palace transfer discussion at the moment is Conor Gallagher, with it being speculated that the ex-Chelsea midfielder could return to the Eagles shortly, having once experienced a formative loan stint at the club.

This would get the fanbase on side after Eze’s exit, considering Gallagher is known to have an eye for a goal and assist. He might well be joined by another creative asset in the middle of the park, too, in the form of RB Leipzig star Christoph Baumgartner.

Sky Sports Germany is reporting that Palace have lodged an enquiry for the £40k-per-week midfielder, as Glasner and Co. keep their options wide open to try and replace the star quality that has left East London behind.

Whilst the report does further elaborate that Glasner’s fellow Austrian compatriot isn’t pushing to leave Leipzig, the pull of the Premier League could well prove to be a tempting one, particularly if he is given the freedom to strut his stuff, alongside a potential teammate in Gallagher.

Why Baumgartner could shine with Gallagher

After all, Baumgartner has shown he has a moment of quality like this up his sleeve for his nation regularly, with a stunning 19 goals amassed from 51 caps for Austria.

His well-known reputation for delivering the goods for his country even saw his national team boss in Ralf Rangnick, declare that he is a “difference-maker”, with the number ten spot looking a lot less depleted if the exciting 26-year-old were to walk away from Leipzig for a shot at Premier League glory with the Eagles.

Baumgartner’s Bundesliga record

Season

Games

Goals + Assists

25/26

1

0

24/25

31

2 + 1

23/24

32

5 + 2

22/23

33

7 + 7

21/22

29

7 + 1

20/21

31

6 + 5

19/20

26

7 + 4

18/19

2

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

It will all rest on whether the Leipzig number 14 can show off his Bundesliga best consistently under Glasner’s wing in England – with a mightily impressive 54 goal contributions under his belt playing in Germany – but that transition could be made to feel a lot easier if he has the experience of Gallagher by his side.

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Much like Baumgartner, the 25-year-old has garnered a reputation for being a lively presence centrally, as seen in him collecting eight goals and five assists during his first stint at Palace, but he is also well-equipped to sit back and be an anchor for his team, which will gift the 51-time Austria international the immediate freedom to express himself.

Away from collecting five goals and seven assists during his final Premier League season with Chelsea, Gallagher also stood out as a relentless livewire willing to get stuck in, with a hefty six ball recoveries averaged per clash, on top of also averaging a high 5.7 duels won.

Baumgartner has also displayed similar levels of vigour plying his trade in Germany, with 4.9 duels won on average for Hoffenheim during his breakout 2019/20 campaign.

The pair working alongside each other in the Palace midfield really could end up being a match made in heaven, with Glasner’s side hopefully looking revitalised with these new additions arriving through the door, even with Eze nowhere to be found.

Related Crystal Palace want to complete £40m double deal to replace Eberechi Eze

The Eagles are ready to plough their summer budget into attacking reinforcements.

Posts 1 BySean Markus Clifford

The last 12 months have certainly been tumultuous for Tottenham Hotspur, whether that be on the field under various managers or even off the field and in the boardroom.

Ange Postecoglou ended the Lilywhites’ 17-year wait for a trophy, but it wasn’t enough to maintain his position at the helm after finishing 17th in the Premier League.

Thomas Frank was brought into the club during the summer, starting a new era to try and build on the Europa League success endured at the back end of the previous campaign.

However, another new era looks set to commence off the field, after chairman Daniel Levy stepped down in recent days after spending 25 years in the role.

Many of his decisions during his time in North London have been questionable to say the least, but his move to land Djed Spence now looks to be a fantastic piece of business.

Djed Spence’s rise to stardom at Spurs

Back in the summer of 2022, Spurs completed the £20m signing of right-back Spence from Championship outfit Middlesbrough – in a move that didn’t go down well with manager Antonio Conte.

The Italian was unhappy with the addition, even stating that he didn’t want to sign the player and subsequently excluding him from his plans for the 2022/23 campaign.

After just six first-team outings that year, he left to join Rennes on loan, before also spending the entirety of the following season on loan at Leeds United and Genoa respectively.

However, the injury setbacks endured during Postecoglou’s reign last season gave the 25-year-old an opportunity to showcase his talents – something which he grabbed with both hands.

Spence ended up making 35 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25, even scoring his first Premier League goal in the win over Ipswich Town back in February.

Such a turnaround has been remarkable, especially considering he nearly left during Conte’s time at the club – with Frank now reaping the rewards of the hierarchy’s faith in the full-back.

The defender subsequently made his first England appearance in the triumph against Serbia on Tuesday night – further showcasing the sensational rise he’s endured in North London over recent months.

The player who could be Frank’s new Spence

After taking the reins during the summer, Frank will need time to implement his system that saw him take Brentford from the depths of the Championship to a consistent Premier League outfit.

However, glimpses of his tactical ability have already been evident, even beating Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad in just the second game of his tenure in North London.

He’s not been afraid to make big calls in recent weeks, even putting faith in striker Richarlison to make an impact after the Brazilian was hugely touted with a move away from the Lilywhites.

The 28-year-old already has two goals and an assist in his first three league games of 2025/26 – subsequently keeping summer addition Mathys Tel out of the starting eleven.

The Frenchman moved to the Lilywhites permanently during the off-season after spending the second half of last campaign on loan under Postecoglou – scoring three times in his 20 appearances.

However, it’s not been all plain sailing for the 20-year-old since his return to the club, failing to make a single start and being restricted to just 19 minutes of first-team action to date.

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Tel’s misery has been further compounded in recent weeks, after being left out of the 25-man Champions League squad – a decision that has undoubtedly been a shock to the fanbase.

He gained a reputation for being a talented youngster at Bayern Munich, leading to one analyst claiming he can become “one of the world’s best”.

His recent snub from Frank’s side will certainly put his future at the club into huge doubt – suffering the same fate as Spence during the early months of his own spell in North London.

Mathys Tel – Spurs career so far

Statistics

Tally

Games played

21

Minutes played

1287

Goals scored

3

Assists

1

Yellow cards

3

Red cards

0

Average rating

6.75

Stats via FotMob

However, the right-back is evidence that players can still succeed even if they fail to make the best first impression, with Tel needing time to fulfil the potential he arrived with.

Offloading the Frenchman in the near future would be a huge mistake, potentially turning into a world beater with regular minutes away from the Lilywhites.

Competition for places isn’t a bad scenario for Frank to have, but it’s crucial he doesn’t neglect Tel’s talents, subsequently needing to manage his talents if the player is to follow in Spence’s footsteps.

Related Frank rates him very highly: Spurs must regret selling their answer to Rice

Tottenham Hotspur may regret offloading a star whom Thomas Frank has previously praised.

Posts ByEthan Lamb

An “incredible” manager has now emerged as a contender to replace Graham Potter at West Ham United, it has been revealed.

Potter's future in doubt after yet another defeat

Potter would’ve been hoping that the surprise 3-0 victory at Nottingham Forest before the international break could be a turning point, but his side once again came up short over the weekend, this time falling to a 3-0 defeat at home against Tottenham.

Speaking after his side’s third loss in four Premier League games, the West Ham boss said: “I understand because the scoreline is the scoreline and I understand why people are upset,”

“We are a new team and we have to stick together and focus on the things we’ve done well and see where we can improve.”

Related West Ham make offer for £14m Tottenham ace with January move now possible

The Hammers have made an approach to sign an “outstanding” player, who is keen on a move to a new Premier League club.

Posts ByDominic Lund

However, having been in charge since January and been given the opportunity to bring in his own players in the summer, it remains to be seen how much longer the Englishman can last, considering his record up to this point is extremely poor.

The 50-year-old has averaged just 0.96 points per match, and has the second-worst Premier League win percentage of any West Ham manager at just 27.3%.

As such, the Hammers’ hierarchy are now starting to run the rule over potential replacements, according to reporter Alan Nixon (via GiveMeSport), who states David Sullivan is an admirer of former Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Nuno was a huge success at The City Ground, meaning he has now emerged as a contender to replace Potter at West Ham, but they may have to move quickly, given that the 51-year-old is likely to be attracting interest courtesy of the job he did at Forest.

"Incredible" Nuno could be an ideal Potter replacement

At this stage, the Hammers are looking like serious relegation candidates, having lost three of their opening four games, which leaves them 18th in the Premier League table.

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Consequently, it would make sense to bring in a manager with a proven track record of being able to transform struggling sides into European contenders, and that is exactly what the former Forest boss managed to do in his last job.

After taking over a Forest side that only narrowly avoided relegation the season prior, the Portuguese coach led them to the Europa League, and he was praised for the “incredible” job he did by Sky Sports’ Sam Obaseki, while also receiving plaudits from Fabrizio Romano.

Nuno could be an excellent appointment for West Ham, given that he is vastly experienced in the Premier League, having also managed Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Sullivan should move swiftly to ensure he wins the race.

West Ham United have splashed the cash in recent years following their move to the London Stadium, with a period of ups and downs under numerous different managers.

A European trophy came the Hammers’ way under David Moyes, but there have also been struggles, with some big-money additions failing to hit the heights.

Related Weekly wages: West Ham United FC 2025/26 highest-paid players

The Irons’ biggest earners for the 2025/26 season…

Posts ByCharlie Smith

Here is a look at West Ham’s most expensive signings of all time to see which ones were a hit and which ones weren’t.

West Ham’s most expensive signings of all time

Rank

Player

Fee

Signed from

Year

1

Lucas Paqueta

£51m

Lyon

2022

2

Sebastian Haller

£45m

Eintracht Frankfurt

2019

3

Mateus Fernandes

£42m

Southampton

2022

4

Max Kilman

£40m

Wolves

2024

5

Mohammed Kudus

£38m

Ajax

2023

6

Felipe Anderson

£36m

Lazio

2018

7

Gianluca Scamacca

£35.5m

Sassuolo

2022

=8

Jean-Clair Todibo

£35m

Nice

2025

=8

Edson Alvarez

£35m

Ajax

2010

=10

Nayef Aguerd

£30m

Rennes

2022

=10

James Ward-Prowse

£30m

Southampton

2023

12

Kurt Zouma

£29.8m

Chelsea

2021

13

Niclas Fullkrug

£27m

Borussia Dortmund

2024

14

Nikola Vlasic

£26.8m

CSKA Moscow

2021

15

Luis Guilherme

£25.5m

Palmeiras

2024

16

Crysencio Summerville

£25m

Leeds United

2024

17

Pablo Fornals

£24m

Villarreal

2019

18

Issa Diop

£22m

Toulouse

2018

19

Andre Ayew

£20.5m

Swansea City

2016

=20

Said Benrahma

£20m

Brentford

2021

=20

Marko Arnautovic

£20m

Stoke City

2017

=20

Mads Hermansen

£20m

Leicester City

2025

Detailed look at West Ham's 10 most expensive signings… 10 Nayef Aguerd £30m from Rennes

Nayef Aguerd came in with a big reputation and a hefty £30m price tag but got injured almost immediately.

He spent just over three years at the London Stadium before being sold to Marseille for £20m in 2025.

9 Edson Alvarez £35m from Ajax

It was something of a coup for the Hammers to land Edson Alvarez, given the interest from both Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea in the midfielder in 2023.

However, just over two years on, the Mexico international was loaned out to Turkish side Fenerbahce.

8 Jean-Clair Todibo £35m from Nice

Jean-Clair Todibo initially joined West Ham on loan, but the defender’s move became permanent in 2025 for an eye-catching £35m fee.

After making 24 Premier League appearances in 2024/25, the obligation to sign Todibo became active from Nice.

7 Gianluca Scamacca £35.5m from Sassuolo

Despite scoring eight goals in 27 games for the Hammers – three of which came in the Conference League – things just never worked out for Gianluca Scamacca in East London.

While injuries certainly didn’t help, there was something that just never clicked with this move, and it’s hard to call it anything other than a flop.

6 Felipe Anderson £36m from Lazio

Felipe Anderson was undoubtedly a good player when he arrived at the club, but given that he came in as the club-record signing – a cool £36m – it’s hard not to view his spell as a disappointment.

The Brazil international made 73 appearances and provided 25 goal contributions, which feels like an underwhelming set of numbers. He was sold back to Lazio in 2021.

5 Mohammed Kudus £38m from Ajax

Mohammed Kudus cost West Ham £38m from Ajax in 2023, and the Ghananian was electric at the London Stadium for a period of time.

However, fast forward to 2025, he headed across London to sign for Tottenham Hotspur, although the Irons did make a profit by cashing in for £55m.

4 Max Kilman £40m from Wolves

During Julen Lopetegui’s time at West Ham, the club splashed the cash on Wolves centre-back Max Kilman.

A player Lopetegui worked with at Molineux, Kilman cost £40m and signed a seven-year deal through until 2031.

3 Mateus Fernandes £42m from Southampton

Mateus Fernandes

2 Sebastian Haller £45m from Eintracht Frankfurt

Sebastian Haller was a flop at West Ham, and an expensive one at £45m. He scored 14 goals in 54 games for the club and often looked utterly lost.

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Since his spell with the Irons, the forward hit the best form of his career at Ajax, earning a move to Borussia Dortmund.

1 Lucas Paqueta £51m from Lyon

Top of the charts as West Ham’s record signing is Lucas Paqueta, and it’s probably fair to say he had a slow start to life at the London Stadium.

The Brazilian has gone from strength to strength with the Hammers and is under contract until 2027.

With Ibrahima Konate yet to sign a new contract, Liverpool are reportedly prioritising a move to sign the Frenchman’s replacement for Arne Slot in 2026.

Update on Konate's Liverpool contract

If there was ever a time for Liverpool to sort Konate’s contract it is now. The Reds have just lost three games on the bounce under Slot, who faces the toughest task of his Anfield career so far after the international break. And in that run, Konate’s form has been one of several problems.

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His situation mirrors Trent Alexander-Arnold’s last season, before the right-back decided to join Real Madrid as a free agent. As the Spanish giants arrived, the defender’s form dropped and uncomfortable questions came to the fore. Whether or not the Madrid factor did play a part is hard to truly say, but that won’t stop those same questions from coming the way of Konate.

As things stand, no new contract has been signed, but negotiations are reportedly ongoing. As far as Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are concerned, they’ll want things wrapped up before January, when Konate can start negotiating a pre-contract agreement with other clubs.

Whilst his deal continues to tick down, Liverpool will no doubt be on the hunt for Konate replacements ahead of 2026. The main name on that front seems to still be Marc Guehi, who came within hours of signing for the club in the summer.

Given that other clubs are now chasing the England international’s signature on a free deal next summer, however, the Reds have reportedly turned towards alternative options.

Liverpool prioritising Diomande deal

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool now see Ousmane Diomande as a key target ahead of 2026 and will target the Sporting Club defender to replace Konate. Represented by the same agency as Virgil van Dijk, the 21-year-old is one of the most promising defenders that European football has to offer. And now, a move to Merseyside could be on the horizon.

Described as a “hybrid” between Arsenal’s Gabriel and William Saliba by analyst Ben Mattinson, Diomande is certainly one to watch. Although he is yet to make his mark on the current Sporting campaign due to injury, his return should see him return to their strongest line-up as they attempt to secure a third-consecutive Liga Portugal title.

For too long have Manchester United have tainted their once imperious reputation with poor recruitment, thus putting a stopper in the dreams of progress after the illustrious Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Sir Alex stepped down from his legendary post 12 years ago, and still United have flattered to deceive, still seeking another Premier League or Champions League title, still struggling for consistency on the pitch.

Cautiously and not without hiccups, INEOS and technical director Jason Wilcox are steering the club away from their past inconsistencies, with hefty fees hurled at stars without consideration of consequences, without deeper thought at whether it would be a prudent move.

Take the £70m signing of Real Madrid’s Casemiro in 2022, for example. The 33-year-old Brazilian has had his ups and downs at Old Trafford and does currently ride the crest of one of his larger waves, but there’s little question United haven’t received bang for their buck.

An elite and effective midfielder is the nucleus of a successful team. Roy Keane was a fine example way back when, simply brilliant and all-consuming under Ferguson’s wing.

Where Roy Keane ranks among Man Utd midfielders

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is a controversial figure down the red streets of Manchester, but he revealed to Rio Ferdinand this week that he considers Keane as one of the best midfielders of all time.

Among the toughest and most combative players to ever play in the division, Keane was instrumental in raising the Ferguson era and cementing it as one of the greatest in European history.

Indeed one of the finest central midfielders to have played in the Premier League, there’s a compelling case to be made that Paul Scholes is the only United man across modern top-flight history to have left a greater legacy.

And even then, some might argue Keane is the cream of the crop.

One thing’s clear, the Glazer Family haven’t managed to sign a player to rival the Irishman in the years since they first purchased a stake in Old Trafford, and that needs to change if United are returning to the top.

There is a member of Amorim’s crop who was actually billed as the next version of Keane, but, as Sky Sports’ Gary Neville has intimated, this big-money addition hasn’t been good enough.

Man Utd thought they signed Keane 2.0

Keane may be known now for his gruff and candid punditry for Sky Sports, but he will forever be defined by his performances at Manchester United.

In Casemiro, United may have fancied they landed a midfielder who could have rivalled the one-time Republic of Ireland captain, in terms of ability, but that didn’t prove the case.

Though they felt they may have got second time lucky with Manuel Ugarte, who was considered by British publications to be the new version of the former skipper when leaving Paris Saint-Germain and joining Erik ten Hag’s project for about £50.5m.

A steely enforcer with exceptional tackling statistics across his professional career, Ugarte, 24, was once described as “a younger Kante” by reporter Zach Lowy, before completing a trip to England. However, questions were soon raised about his performances in the Premier League.

Ugarte may be among the most relentless recyclers of possession out there, but he leaves much to be desired on the ball. In fact, FBref record the Uruguayan to rank among the bottom 18% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and the bottom 25% for progressive carries per 90.

Given that his progressiveness on the ball is so shallow, you would expect him to be among the crispest passers out there, but an 85% pass success rate in the league this season perhaps underlines why Amorim has only started the South American twice, especially as he is averaging three fouls every two matches, as per Sofascore.

Man Utd’s Most Progressive Passers (24/25)

Player

Apps

Prog. Passes (per 90)

Bruno Fernandes

36

9.70

Casemiro

24

5.06

Scott McTominay

2

5.00

Mason Mount

17

4.78

Christian Eriksen

23

4.66

Kobbie Mainoo

25

3.55

Manuel Ugarte

29

3.08

Toby Collyer

6

2.50

Data via FBref

That’s somewhat grim reading, and Casemiro’s impressive forward distribution accentuates Ugarte’s deficiency.

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Many of Man United’s problems have stemmed from the midfield this season, and discordance within Amorim’s tactical set-up is the root of that wider issue.

However, Ugarte certainly hasn’t helped himself when called upon, with Neville slamming him as a “massive problem” after United were thrashed in the Manchester derby last month, continuing to say that the Uruguay international is a “massive problem”.

Toward the start of the current campaign, writer Mohammed Butt even labelled him as “absolutely useless”, and though this is rather scathing, there’s little question that changes will be sought in the future if things do not improve.

But Ugarte’s lack of quality on the ball is an inherent problem; it’s simply not within his wheelhouse of key strengths. With this in mind, how far can he take his Man United career? This is especially pertinent if Amorim strengthens his grip on the reins and makes headway at the helm.

The £120k-per-week talent shouldn’t be quite written off just yet, but the initial excitement that the club had landed their next version of a legend like Keane looks a long way away now.

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Nottingham Forest are now in talks to offload one of Nuno’s summer signings this January, as he has failed to make the desired impact at the City Ground.

Forest looking to offload Nuno signing after Dyche arrival

Evangelos Marinakis wasted little time appointing a successor to Ange Postecoglou, with Sean Dyche recently giving his first interview since becoming manager, in a journey that has come full circle, having started at Forest as a youth player.

Dyche will be under no illusions as to the size of the task at hand, with the Tricky Trees currently in the Premier League relegation zone, having already sacked two managers, while there is also European Football to contend with.

Indeed, the 54-year-old’s first match in charge will be against FC Porto on Thursday evening, with his side still looking for their first win in the Europa League, having suffered an extremely disappointing 3-2 home defeat against FC Midtjylland last time out.

The former Everton boss has just over two months to improve results before the January transfer window opens, at which point the manager may look to reshuffle the squad he has inherited and bring in some new recruits.

According to a report from Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), a departure may also be on the cards, with it being revealed that Nottingham Forest have now entered talks to sell €30m (£26m) summer signing Arnaud Kalimuendo.

Kalimuendo hasn’t hit the ground running since being signed in the summer, with the 23-year-old still yet to start a match, and his time at the City Ground may already be coming to an end, with the Tricky Trees open to a loan departure, which would include a purchase option.

A January exit could be on the cards, with AS Roma named as the team that have entered discussions with Forest, given that sporting director Frederic Massara knows the striker well from their time together at Rennes.

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Posts ByCharlie Smith Kalimuendo must improve ahead of January

On paper, the signing of the Frenchman made perfect sense, given his goal and assist record in Ligue 1 since making a breakthrough at Lens during the 2020/21 season.

Season

Ligue 1 appearances

Goal contributions

2020/21

28

12

2021/22

32

12

2022/23

30

12

2023/24

30

14

2024/25

33

21

However, the former Rennes man has been unable to force his way into the plans of either Nuno or Postecoglou, appearing for just 65 minutes across five substitute appearances in the Premier League.

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Once described as “prolific” by scout Jacek Kulig, the centre-forward has been nothing of the sort since arriving at Forest, and he may continue to struggle to get into the team in the coming weeks, given that Dyche is well-known to be a big fan of Chris Wood.

It seems a little early to sanction Kalimuendo’s departure, as it often takes players time to adapt to life in the Premier League, but the grace period can only last so long.

It’s still early in the season, but Arsenal look almost unstoppable at the moment.

Mikel Arteta’s side continued their impressive form in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and now have the chance to extend their lead in the Premier League this afternoon.

However, to do so, the Gunners will have to beat an inform Sunderland side at the Stadium of Light, without Viktor Gyokeres, who scored last time out.

Fortunately, Arteta has a few ways of dealing with the Swede’s absence, and no, he doesn’t have to use Mikel Merino.

The Arsenal changes Arteta has to make

Before examining the players Arteta should bring into the team for this game, it’s worth taking a look at who is fit.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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Fortunately, since Gyokeres’ injury, Arsenal have not lost anyone else to the medical room, and in even better news, Gabriel Jesus has returned to first-team training.

However, the Brazilian is unlikely to feature against Sunderland, nor are the likes of Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke or Gabriel Martinelli, with the manager telling the press that “nobody new that can join the squad.”

Even so, there are more than enough players fit for changes to be made to the team that won in Prague on Tuesday night.

The first of which should come in defence, with Riccardo Calafiori coming back in for the impressive Piero Hincapie.

Likewise, while Christian Norgaard did a good job anchoring the midfield, Martin Zubimendi, or the Gunners’ “signing of the summer,” as one analyst described him, should come in for him.

The final midfield change should see Eberechi Eze replace Ethan Nwaneri, as the 27-year-old’s creativity and playmaking ability could be crucial in breaking down the Black Cats’ low block.

Finally, while Merino did brilliantly in scoring two goals against Slavia, this might be a game for Arteta to pick someone else to lead the line.

The Arsenal player who could replace Merino

While Arteta could go rogue and opt to start Nwaneri up top for this game, the more reasonable way to go would be to start Leandro Trossard.

Now, there are certainly arguments for keeping Merino as the striker, but equally, there are reasons why the Belgian should be given a go up top, such as his technical quality.

Even though Sunderland are in fine form, the Gunners are more than likely going to face a stubborn low block at the Stadium of Light.

Therefore, it would make more sense to have someone like the 30-year-old leading the line who has the ability to pick a lock, not just with a pass, but with some quality close control.

As good as Merino has been this year, he has never shown an ability to get past a defender with the ball at his feet.

The second reason for going with the “little magician,” as Arteta dubbed him, is that, unlike last season, he seems to have rediscovered his form.

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For example, in 13 appearances, totalling just 742 minutes, he has scored three goals and provided four assists.

Trossard’s 25/26

Appearances

13

Minutes

742

Goals

3

Assists

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.53

Minutes per Goal Involvement

106′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.85 games, or more impressively, every 106 minutes.

Finally, since he arrived at the club, the Waterschei-born dynamo has been a clutch player, someone who can and often does pop up with the all-important goal.

Moreover, as the legendary Ian Wright put it, he’s also shown himself to be the squad’s “best finisher and most clinical finisher of chances.”

Therefore, while it sounds counterproductive, Arteta might be better off starting Trossard in Gyokeres’ place this weekend.

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