Another goal for Brighton’s supremely talented Evan Ferguson over the weekend means the Seagulls now have over seven times more Premier League goals scored by teenagers than the next nearest teams in 2023.
Roberto De Zerbi has used 25 different players so far this season, who combine for an average age of 26.2. Although this figure is likely inflated by the likes of summer signing James Milner, who turns 38 in January, and 35-year-old Adam Lallana, the Seagulls’ unmatched ability to unearth talent at a young age has so far proven a success.
Their algorithm-led approach headed up by highly-sought after recruitment leader Sam Jewell, and put into action by the widely revered Roberto De Zerbi, has seen them establish a seemingly never-ending revolving door of hidden gems.
With the fourth-lowest average age in the Premier League last season, they managed to qualify for Europe for the first time in the club’s history. This is all the while being widely praised for being one of only a handful of clubs on the continent to report a positive net spend over the past five years.
Handing young players – often teenagers in Brighton’s case – the responsibility of being a first team players has paid dividends in 2023.
None more so than Evan Ferguson, who took his Premier League tally up to 10 goals for the year against Fulham last time out. The Irishman has garnered the attention of some of the Europe’s top clubs, and given the shortage of truly world-class, recognised number nines, Brighton will more than likely command another nine figure transfer fee – if and when he does decide to fly the nest.
Ferguson’s double digit tally – the first teenager to achieve that feat in a calendar year since Wayne Rooney in 2005 – accounts for over 65% of Brighton’s goals scored by teenagers in 2023.
15 Premier League goals scored by teenagers in 2023 also means the Seagulls account for 65% of the total scored this year.
Premier League Goals Scored By Teenagers in 2023
- 15 – Brighton
- 2 – Aston Villa, Leeds, Manchester United
- 1 – Burnley, Chelsea
Courtesy of Opta.
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