Bukayo Saka celebrated a milestone at the weekend as the Arsenal winger won his 100th game as a Premier League player.
Saka has been an integral part of Arsenal’s progress since emerging from the club’s academy ranks, evolving into a key figure for club and country.
The North London side’s win at Aston Villa saw Saka bring up a century of wins in the Premier League, becoming one of the youngest-ever players to reach that landmark.
The youngest players to reach 100 Premier League wins
5. Raheem Sterling – 23 years and 15 days
Raheem Sterling edges out Cristiano Ronaldo (23 years and 25 days), Ryan Giggs (23 years and 44 days) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (23 years and 58 days) to make the top five.
Sterling made his debut for Liverpool as a 17-year-old and developed into a regular part of an exciting side under Brendan Rodgers. He formed part of the team that finished as runners-up in the Premier League in 2013/14 before joining Manchester City in a £49m deal in 2015.
PHOTO: Two-goal @sterling31 celebrates… #LFC 5-1 #AFC pic.twitter.com/OHGjNxAo49
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 8, 2014
At the Etihad, Sterling evolved from inconsistent talent to one of the most effective wingers in the Premier League. He was a crucial part of four Premier League title successes with the Citizens and scored 131 goals in 339 games for the club.
4. Phil Foden – 22 years and 358 days
Phil Foden made his debut for Manchester City as a teenager and reached 100 league wins for the club aged 22 years and 358 days.
The academy-produced gem has since emerged as one of the most exciting talents in the Premier League. Still just 24, he has already won six Premier League titles, six domestic cups and the Champions League among his honours.
The 2023/24 campaign proved to be the best of his career to date as Foden was named PFA Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year for his role in City’s title success.
3. Bukayo Saka – 22 years and 354 days
Saka earns entry on this list at number three, beating Foden to 100 wins by just four days. Arsenal’s ‘Star Boy’ has been an important part of the club’s progress under Mikel Arteta, with the Gunners having secured back-to-back runners-up finishes in the Premier League across the last two seasons.
Saka has twice been named Arsenal’s Player of the Season and won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2022/23.
22 years old. 100 Premier League wins.
Our Bukayo Saka 👑 pic.twitter.com/voY8WqzDJv
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 24, 2024
2. Cesc Fabregas – 22 years and 180 days
Cesc Fabregas sits second on this list having reached 100 league wins aged 22 years and 180 days.
Arsenal lured the Spanish midfielder to English football from Barcelona as a teenager, with the promise of a clearer path to first-team football. Fabregas made his debut for the Gunners in a League Cup tie at age 16, becoming Arsenal’s youngest-ever first-team player at that time.
He went on to make 303 appearances for the North Londoners, scoring 57 times, before leaving for Barcelona in 2011.
1. Wayne Rooney – 22 years and 87 days
Wayne Rooney holds the record as the youngest-ever Premier League player to reach 100 wins.
Rooney announced his arrival in the Premier League with a stunning winner against champions Arsenal in 2002, as the 16-year-old came off the bench to score spectacularly for Everton.
Wayne Rooney’s first #PL goal was an absolute stunner 💫#EVEARS | @WayneRooney pic.twitter.com/WOdEgWo0UD
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 4, 2023
He moved to Manchester United in a £27m deal in 2004 and scored a hat-trick on his debut for the club in the Champions League.
By the time of his departure 12 seasons later, Rooney had scored a record-breaking 256 goals for the Red Devils and won 12 major trophies.
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