2 weeks Ago By Luke Collins
West Ham United have the oldest squad in the league, with several players over 30, while Fulham and Everton also have experienced players in their ranks. After Manchester United's busy transfer windows in the summer and in January, which saw players old and young join their ranks, they have the sixth-youngest squad. Chelsea have the youngest squad in the Premier League, as they have shed senior players and focused on youth recruitment.
Some fans might believe that football teams ‘can’t win anything with kids,’ but that has not stopped Premier League clubs up and down the country from giving it a go. Teams are always on the lookout for bright young talent that can make an impact from the off, and we have seen a whole host of young players on the move in the January transfer window. A number of young stars have made a significant impact for their respective clubs so far this season.
This includes Brazilian wonderkid S avinho who has now become Pep Guardiola’s latest project : from unknown prospect to a world-beater and Liam Delap, who has been Ipswich Town's standout player. So, with a litany of young talent being brought into nearly every club in the top flight, the team at GIVEMESPORT thought we would rank every team in the Premier League based on their average age. And while one of the aforementioned teams do not claim the top spot here, it’s surprising just to see how clear the youngest squad in the league are of everyone else.
Ranking Every Premier League Club's Squad Based on Their Average Age Team Squad size Average squad age West Ham United 26 28.0 Everton 25 27.9 Fulham 26 27.
6 Manchester City 29 27.0 Newcastle United 27 26.7 Liverpool 25 26.
6 Wolverhampton Wanderers 31 26.4 Aston Villa 24 26.4 Leicester City 29 26.
3 Crystal Palace 28 26.2 Nottingham Forest 24 25.9 Ipswich Town 29 25.
7 Arsenal 24 25.6 Southampton 29 25.5 Manchester United 25 25.
4 Brentford 26 25.2 AFC Bournemouth 25 25.1 Tottenham Hotspur 30 24.
8 Brighton & Hove Albion 28 24.4 Chelsea 30 23.5 West Ham United Coming bottom of the list and taking the title for biggest granddads in the Premier League is Graham Potter's side.
West Ham United ’s squad is one full of top division experience, but their average age is significantly raised by the likes of Luis Fabianski and Aaron Cresswell, who are 39 and 35, respectively. Seven other players in the squad are 30 and above - including new signing Niclas Fullkrug - which bumps the average age up just a little more. They also have their fair share of youngsters in their ranks, but only seven players are 25 or younger, providing more dynamism to the aging legs mentioned above.
Everton Theoretically, David Moyes's Everton squad should be at the peak of their powers. Yes, there are a few at the older end of the spectrum in the roster, such as Ashley Young (39) and Seamus Coleman (35), but the best part of the Toffees squad are in their 20s. The likes of Jarrad Branthwaite, James Garner and Nathan Patterson are all 22 and below and all played a pivotal part last season.
Branthwaite, admired by a host of top clubs , may be on his way out of Goodison Park in years to come and, as a result, Everton’s average age may begin to rise - despite him staying for this term, at least. Fulham There are a few players the wrong side of 30 years of age involved in the Fulham squad, including the likes of Tom Cairney, Bernd Leno, and summer 2023 acquisition Raul Jimenez. That experience is offset by just a few youngsters.
While seven players are aged 25 or younger, the Cottagers' youngest player, Rodrigo Muniz, is still 23. The know-how of the more seasoned professionals might come in useful if the Cottagers go through tough times. But following the shrewd acquisitions of the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Joachim Andersen, the Cottagers are pushing further up the table, with worries of relegation dissipating with every game week.
Manchester City Guardiola has assembled an absolutely monstrous squad, one which includes several promising youngsters. Josko Gvardiol, Phil Foden, and Erling Haaland are the most exciting of them all, all 24 or younger, and all vital cogs in the Spanish tactician’s well-oiled machine. Just five players out of 29 are over 30 years old, including midfield magician Kevin De Bruyne .
Ederson (31), alongside returning superstar Ilkay Gundogan (34) increase the average age, while teenager Rico Lewis and the likes of Oscar Bobb and Jeremy Doku are all 21 and below. The perfect concoction of experience and youth has paid off in recent times for Guardiola, as proven by City's treble success. This season has been far from ideal for the Sky Blues, though, as they sit fifth after 24 matches.
Newcastle United Eddie Howe’s side is brimming with much-needed experience, with 11 players 30 or older. Fabian Schar and Kieran Trippier are mature, level heads at the back, capable of guiding younger players through difficult spells in games, though the likes of Lewis Miley and Lewis Hall are there to keep their average age lower than it would be. Alongside the aforementioned youngsters, there are some other exciting young talents in the Newcastle United ranks, though, including Tino Livramento and William Osula – both 21 years of age.
Their squad, full of 27 stars, is definitely a case of two extremes, with 20 years being between the oldest and youngest members. Liverpool Jurgen Klopp ’s attempts to rejuvenate his squad haven’t reduced their average age a whole lot in comparison to the rest of the league. James Milner and Jordan Henderson, most notably, have been taken off the books and, sure, there are some talented players under 25 in their ranks, including Dominic Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister - but there are plenty of old, wise heads too, as Arne Slot's reign continues.
That includes the likes of Alisson (32), Virgil van Dijk (33), and Mohamed Salah (32). How long each of the star trio can keep plying their trade at the highest level for the Reds, though, remains to be seen, as Harvey Elliott (21) is among those waiting in the wings. Wolverhampton Wanderers Vitor Pereira's side has experience and youth spread across the pitch.
Craig Dawson, who has been viewed by many supporters as a 30+ veteran for years now, is the most senior squad member at just 34 years of age. Aside from six others, everyone else in the Wolverhampton Wanderers setup is 30 or younger. That blend of dynamic young players and level, older heads has proven formidable in their attempt to stay up and avoid a relegation dogfight.
Summer signing Pedro Lima is the youngest player in the squad at 18 years old, while the likes of Rodrigo Gomes and Tommy Doyle are 21 and 22, respectively. Aston Villa What a job Unai Emery has done since taking the job at Villa Park. Under his guidance, the squad managed to qualify for the Europa Conference League in his first season, before then securing Champions League qualification for the 2024/25 campaign - the club's first taste of the continent's premier competition since the mid-80s.
He has been helped, in part, by the fact that he has an experienced 24-man squad on his books. Yes, seven of the Aston Villa squad are aged 25 or younger, including summer recruits Ian Maatsen and Amadou Onana, but Emiliano Martinez (32) and a few others are on the wrong side of 30. They also don’t have one extreme old-timer, with Robin Olsen the most senior member of the squad at 35 – but in the grand scheme of things, that isn’t too senior.
Leicester City Considering Jamie Vardy is 38 himself, many would have expected Leicester City's squad age to be much higher than it currently is. But while six players join him in the over-30 category, the Foxes - who are aiming to survive Premier League relegation at the first time of asking - also boast plenty of young and hungry players. Abdul Fatawu was one of the Championship's star players last season, providing 13 assists, and his tender age of just 20 proves age is just a number when it comes to footballing talent.
Unfortunately, he picked up an ACL injury in November 2024, though, ruling him out for the rest of the season. Others joining Fatwau among those who are under 20 include new signings Bilal El Khannouss and Facundo Buonanotte, who joined on loan from Brighton. Crystal Palace Crystal Palace completed the summer signing of exciting centre-back Chadi Riad from Barcelona, and he slots into a young, exciting team that also includes the likes of England duo Adam Wharton and Marc Guehi, two stars who are still only 21 and 24, respectively.
The majority of the old-but-gold that Oliver Glasner adopted from Roy Hodgson have been offloaded, while other new signings, such as Eddie Nketiah (25), Maxence Lacroix (24), and Daichi Kamada (28), are surprisingly among the senior players in the young squad. In January, Palace signed Romain Esse (19) from Millwall, and he scored on his debut against Brentford. Nottingham Forest Nuno Espirito Santo has had just two full transfer windows to address any issues after he was forced to pick up where Steve Cooper left off.
As such, he adopted a team that has a nice balance of youth and experience in their ranks. Summer signing from two seasons ago Anthony Elanga sits at one end of the spectrum, while New Zealander Chris Wood sits towards the other. This drastic turnaround from last season is largely down to the fact older players like Cheikhou Kouyate (34) have all departed the club, while Elliot Anderson (21) are among new faces to drag that overall squad age down.
Ipswich Town Signing levelheaded, older - and supposedly wiser - players is a transfer strategy that many managers adopt when they first arrive in the Premier League. But such is the exciting manner in which Kieran McKenna has operated since taking charge of Ipswich Town , he's done the complete opposite. With all but three players under the age of 30, the Tractor Boys look to survive the dropzone their own way.
Signing Omari Hutchinson (21) on a permanent deal from Chelsea, along with Liam Delap (22) from Manchester City, proves that the club has faith in youth. Arsenal Mikel Arteta had the youthful spine of his team to thank for his once-favourable position in this list. However, after an exodus of academy graduates over the summer, they now find themselves much lower down.
That said, they do still boast a surfeit of young talent, with Bukayo Saka one of the youngest in the team, yet arguably the most important player by quite some way. Since his hamstring injury in 2024, Ethan Nwaneri has stepped up in his absence and Myles Lewis-Skelly has also been an impressive performer. They are joined by Declan Rice and William Saliba who are among the players in the squad who are 25 or younger and are in the debate of being the best in their position.
Erling Haaland is only the 11th best player in the Premier League this season according to WhoScored numbers. Southampton Southampton is a club that has always emphasised the importance of not only signing young players, but also nurturing those that come through their own youth system. This hasn't been successful for them so far this season, as they have only picked up nine points from their first 24 matches.
Out of their 29-man squad, only four players - Jack Stephens (31), Charlie Taylor (31), Alex McCarthy (35) and Adam Lallana (36) - are over the age of 30. Meanwhile, eight of their new signings over the summer were aged 22 or younger. This includes deals for the likes of Mateus Fernandes (20), Lesley Ugochukwu (20), and Taylor Harwood-Bellis (23).
Manchester United Admittedly, there are a few experienced heads in the Manchester United camp right now, which should help them traverse their insipid start to the 2024/25 season. Jonny Evans, who returned to the club in the summer of 2023, is the second most senior player at Old Trafford behind Tom Heaton, who is 38 years of age. But for the most part, Ruben Amorim has a young, hungry and exciting squad on his hands right now, including 12 players who are 25 or younger.
Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, who are 19 and 20, respectively, are the most exciting of the bunch, getting regular game time ahead of other more experienced pros. Meanwhile, their new transfer policy saw a range of old and young players walk through the revolving doors this summer. Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui bring top-level experience, and Leny Yoro became the club's most expensive teenage signing.
Patrick Dorgu (20) was also signed in the January window to bolster their defensive options. Everything you need to know about Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo..
. Brentford The Bees are one of the most fun teams in the league to watch and will win plenty of plaudits this season as they have done in the years gone by. Impressively, they have achieved success in the top flight with a relatively young team, with Ben Mee the most senior squad member at 35.
Plenty of the Brentford squad are either in their prime or approaching it, including Christian Norgaard and Bryan Mbeumo, both of whom have been crucial this year. Star man Ivan Toney may be gone now, but young acquisitions such as that of Liverpool's Fabio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg should do more than enough to fill that void. AFC Bournemouth Bournemouth , navigated by the revered Andoni Iraola, were one of the surprise packages of the Premier League last season, despite a few picking the Cherries to go down before a ball was kicked – but their blend of experience and youth has proven to be impressive.
Although only Adam Smith (33) is over 30, Iraola’s squad has plenty of experience in his squad, with many hitting their prime. Kepa Arrizabalaga (30) is the mainstay between the sticks, while summer signings Julian Araujo and Luis Sinisterra – both below 26 - are talented young players able to make a difference, even after Dominic Solanke's Tottenham switch. The club's strategy has worked once again this season, as they are in the hunt for the European places with 14 matches to play.
There have been a handful of extraordinary comebacks over the course of the Premier League era. Tottenham Hotspur On 24.8 is Tottenham Hotspur , led by Ange Postecoglou.
With Hugo Lloris having left for Los Angeles FC, their average age was reduced significantly, as now, only three players in Postecoglou’s 30-man squad are 30 years of age or older. A significant number of important first team players are all 25 or younger, including Pape Matar Sarr, Micky van de Ven, and Dejan Kulusevski , none of whom are older than 24. With a few signings in certain positions, Spurs could have a team set in stone for years to come.
January signing Radu Dragusin is also just 22 years of age, meaning that their heart of defence is well-poised to go from strength to strength. Elsewhere, summer acquisitions - Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall - are both midfielders still in their teenage years. Brighton & Hove Albion Brighton are typically seen as the young, talented team, with their excellent recruitment seeing countless exceptional youngsters come through the doors of the AMEX stadium.
But one of last summer's recruits is also their oldest. 38-year-old James Milner arrived from Liverpool this summer, becoming the most experienced player on their books by three years. The Englishman’s arrival raises the age slightly, but not drastically.
When you have the likes of Evan Ferguson, Julio Enciso and Yankuba Minteh on the books, just three players out of eight in the squad who are 22 or younger, there’s little surprise that the Seagulls rank so well here. GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: No better is Brighton's faith in youth better encapsulated by the fact their manager, Fabian Hurzeler (31), is younger than six of their players. Chelsea Given all of their young signings in the last couple of transfer windows, we can’t be too surprised that Chelsea are the youngest group in the Premier League.
What is more surprising is just how much younger they are on average than everyone else, with a gap of 0.9 between them and second-placed Brighton. A whole host of senior players have departed the club, with Marcus Bettinelli (32) the only player over 30 remaining.
Staggeringly though, they have just seven players who are between the ages of 25 and 30. The remaining players on their books are all 25 or younger. We know that Enzo Maresca is excellent at getting the best out of young talent, but might he find the lack of experience a big concern? All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and Opta - correct as of 10/02/25.
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