A number of Premier League players aged 21 or under are making their mark this season, with a next generation of goalscorers shining for top-flight clubs.
Unearthing emerging talent is the desired route for long-term success and few clubs have done that better than Brighton in recent campaigns, with the Seagulls boasting three players on this list.
Here are the Premier League players, aged 21 or under, with the most goals in all competitions so far this season.
Most goals by Premier League players aged 21 or under this season:
Jhon Duran – Aston Villa (4)
Aston Villa agreed a deal to sign Jhon Duran in the January transfer window, with the club convinced of the Colombian’s potential after a run of goals for MLS side Chicago Fire.
The teenager is yet to start a Premier League game and has totalled just 195 minutes of league action. However, Duran has shown glimpses of the talent that persuaded Villa to bring him to English football and has scored four goals in all competitions this season.
UNSTOPPABLE. ????
Sensational from @JhonDuran991! ???? pic.twitter.com/F6QH9FAsr9
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 16, 2023
The 19-year-old netted off the bench in Premier League wins over Everton and Crystal Palace, and has found the net in Europa Conference League clashes with Hibernian and Legia Warsaw. Duran has not featured in the Premier League for five games, amid rumours of a strained relationship with Unai Emery.
Ansu Fati – Brighton (4)
Brighton pulled off one of the coups of the summer after landing Ansu Fati on loan from Barcelona last summer. Fati was so highly regarded at Barcelona that he inherited Lionel Messi’s number ten shirt upon the latter’s exit, but fitness issues have plagued the winger in recent campaigns.
Fati has been sent on loan to the Premier League in a bid to rediscover his form and fitness and has made a bright start at Brighton. The Spain international has four goals and an assist from just five starts in all competitions and appears to be enjoying his football under Roberto De Zerbi.
Simon Adingra – Brighton (4)
Another off the Brighton production line of young talent, the Seagulls signed Simon Adingra from Nordsjælland in 2022 before sending the winger on loan last season.
A brilliant campaign at Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium saw the 21-year-old score 11 goals and provide nine assists, before returning to Brighton last summer.
Simon’s special goal! ???????? pic.twitter.com/BVwsoJcDjA
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) November 12, 2023
Adingra has shown real promise over the season’s opening months and has four goals and three assists from just nine starts in all competitions. He earned his first call up to the Ivory Coast national team in March and has since won three caps.
Evan Ferguson – Brighton (5)
Evan Ferguson makes it three Brighton players on this feature, having scored five goals in all competitions this season. Ferguson has become the first teenager in 18 years to score 10 Premier League goals in a calendar year, with Wayne Rooney the last to achieve the feat.
The 18-year-old celebrated his first Premier League hat-trick against Newcastle earlier in the campaign, to cement his status as one of the division’s brightest talents.
Brighton have moved quickly to secure Ferguson’s future amid reported interest from Premier League rivals, with the Ireland international signing a new long-term contract this month.
Rasmus Hojlund – Manchester United (5)
Manchester United’s search for a centre-forward landed at Rasmus Hojlund last summer, with the Red Devils agreeing a £72m deal to sign the striker from Atalanta.
Hojlund had shown rich promise since moving to the Premier League, despite still awaiting his first league goal for the club. The Denmark international has been excellent in Europe however, with Hojlund the joint-leading scorer in the Champions League this season with five goals.
Rasmus Hojlund has scored 5 Champions League goals so far for Manchester United. No player has scored more for the club after 4 games in the competition.
What a start he’s made. ???? pic.twitter.com/5dZnz5Q78K
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 8, 2023
Hojlund scored a brace against former club FC Copenhagen last week to take hit total to five goals in four European appearances this season. He’s averaged a Champions League goal every 68 minutes in the group stages.
Cole Palmer – Chelsea (6)
Cole Palmer decided to leave Manchester City in search of first-team football last summer and has been rewarded with a prominent role in the Chelsea side.
Palmer started the season with goals in the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup for treble winners Manchester City, before completing a surprise £42.5m move to Chelsea in the closing stages of the window.
Eyebrows were raised at that fee given Palmer’s lack of appearances in a City shirt, but he has caught the eye with a series of impressive performances in west London.
Unbelievable. ???? pic.twitter.com/7Sq2MmDWOr
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 12, 2023
Palmer scored his fourth league goal of the season – each coming from the penalty spot – to earn Chelsea a point against his former side at the weekend. The 21-year-old slammed home a stoppage time spot-kick past Ederson in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge.
His eye-catching start at Chelsea has earned Palmer a place in the England squad for the first time, as the Three Lions conclude Euro 2024 qualification this month.
Read – The five oldest goalscorers in Premier League history
Read more – Premier League weekend: Five things we learned
Cult Kits: Hundreds of shirts added to store each week
