In European football’s top leagues, one club stands out when it comes to goals scored by their youngest first-team squad members. Brighton & Hove Albion, the Premier League’s exciting team, has surpassed all other clubs in the Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish LaLiga, Italian Serie A, and French Ligue 1 in terms of teenage goal-scorers. Head coach Roberto De Zerbi’s confidence in young talent has paid off, and the Seagulls have benefited the most from these youthful players compared to their illustrious counterparts like Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Let’s delve into the stats and explore which other clubs have witnessed the successes of teenage goal-scorers in the 2023-24 campaign.
Brighton leads the pack by a comfortable margin. The seventh-placed team in the Premier League has seen nine of their 38 league goals this season scored by teenage players. Evan Ferguson, the 19-year-old Republic of Ireland international, has been the standout performer with six league goals in 19 games. He even secured a remarkable hat trick in a 3-1 win over Newcastle United. However, Ferguson has struggled to find the net consistently as he hasn’t scored since the end of November. Additionally, 18-year-old full-back Jack Hinshelwood has contributed two goals in his debut Premier League season, while 19-year-old attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte found the net once against Chelsea. Overall, Brighton has scored four more goals through teenagers than any other team in Europe’s top leagues and six more than their closest Premier League competitor, Burnley.
Girona, the surprise package of LaLiga, sits at the top of the table after an incredible start to the season. In addition to their superb form, Girona boasts the highest number of goals scored by teenagers in the Spanish top-flight. All of their goals can be accredited to 19-year-old winger Sávio, who has found the back of the net five times in 19 league appearances. Sávio’s goal-scoring exploits place him third on the club’s list of highest league goal-scorers, behind only Artem Dovbyk and Cristhian Stuani. Girona narrowly beats Alaves and Barcelona in terms of goals scored by teenagers. Speaking of Barcelona, they, along with Brighton, are the only two teams in Europe’s top leagues to have three different teenage goal-scorers this season in Gavi, Marc Guiu, and Lamine Yamal.
Pipping their rivals Bayern Munich by a single goal, Borussia Dortmund leads the way in terms of teenage goal-scorers in the Bundesliga this season. While Dortmund’s campaign has been somewhat underwhelming, 19-year-old striker Youssoufa Moukoko has impressed with three goals in 10 games, including two in his last two outings, despite coming on as a late substitute. Another teenage goal-scorer for Dortmund is 19-year-old English winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, who netted his first goal for the club in a 4-2 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach. Dortmund’s faith in young talent has reaped rewards in terms of goals and highlights their dedication to nurturing promising players.
Despite languishing at the bottom of the Ligue 1 standings, Lorient can find solace in the emergence of their young forward Eli Junior Kroupi. The 17-year-old has scored four goals in 17 games, showcasing his talent at such a tender age. Kroupi’s standout moment arrived in early October when he scored two goals against Lyon in a thrilling 3-3 draw. In comparison to their Ligue 1 rivals like Paris Saint-Germain, Rennes, Montpellier, Lille, and Reims, Lorient has seen double the number of goals scored by teenagers. This further emphasizes the impact that young players can make, even in challenging circumstances.
In Serie A, mid-table Monza has claimed the title of having the most goals scored by teenagers, even outshining AC Milan by the narrowest of margins. Monza owes its success to 18-year-old midfielder Valentin Carboni and 19-year-old winger Samuele Vignato, who have collectively scored three goals. Carboni has been responsible for two of these goals, showcasing his talent at a young age. Although Monza may not be considered among the giants of European football, they share the distinction of witnessing three goals scored by teenagers this season, alongside established powerhouses like Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona.
The rise of teenage goal-scorers across Europe’s top leagues is an exciting phenomenon. Clubs like Brighton & Hove Albion, Girona, Borussia Dortmund, Lorient, and Monza have harnessed the potential of young talent, reaping the rewards on the pitch. These teenage goal-scorers provide a glimpse into the future of football and the potential they hold as they continue to develop. As the season progresses, it will be fascinating to see how these young stars contribute to their respective teams and make a mark on the world stage.