Our youngest ever players - Where does Jun'ai Byfield rank?
Wed 21 January 2026, 11:30|
Tottenham Hotspur
Jun'ai Byfield made his senior debut for the Club in Tuesday night's win over Borussia Dortmund at the age of just 17 years, one month and 14 days, but where does he rank amongst our youngest ever players?
Coming off the bench in the 2-0 Champions League win over the German side at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this week, Jun'ai became our seventh debutant of the season so far and the second player from our Academy production line to do so after Luca Williams-Barnett back in September (coming in our League Cup tie with Doncaster Rovers).
Playing the final 30 minutes of what was a huge game in the context of our Champions League campaign, Thomas Frank was full of praise for the 17-year-old in his post-match interviews, praising his calmness and composure despite hid tender age.
But where does his age put him in context of our youngest ever players? Well, Jun'ai sits just outside our top 10 youngest ever players with him now the 11th youngest player to appear for us in any competition.
Alfie Devine - currently on loan at Championship side Preston North End - remains our youngest ever player in all competitions after he made his first team debut back in January, 2021, against Marine at the age of 16 years, five months and nine days.
Our youngest ever players (all competitions)
1. Alfie Devine vs Marine - January, 2021 - 16 years, 5 months, 9 days
2. Dane Scarlett vs Ludogorets - November, 2020 - 16 years, 8 months, 2 days
3. Mikey Moore vs Manchester City - May, 2024 - 16 years, 9 months, 3 days
4. John Bostock vs Dinamo Zagreb - November, 2008 - 16 years, 9 months, 22 days
5. Ally Dick vs Swansea City - February, 1992 - 16 years, 9 months, 26 days
6. Neil McNab vs Chelsea - April, 1974 - 16 years, 9 months, 30 days
7. Luca Williams-Barnett vs Doncaster Rovers - September, 2025 - 16 years, 11 months, 24 days
8. Terry Gibson vs Brentford - December, 1979 - 17 years, 6 days
9. Frank Saul vs Bolton Wanderers - September, 1960 - 17 years, 15 days
10. Stephen Carr vs Burnley - September, 1993 - 17 years, 24 days
11. Jun'ai Byfield vs Borussia Dortmund - January, 2026 - 17 years, 1 month, 14 days
In terms of the Champions League though, Jun'ai is now the youngest ever player to appear for us in the competition.
The Academy graduate has broken the record previously held by Malachi Fagan-Walcott, who was 17 years, 11 months and 28 days when he stepped onto the pitch for the first time in the second leg of our round of 16 tie with RB Leipzig in March, 2020.
Our youngest players in the Champions League/European Cup
1. Jun'ai Byfield vs Borussia Dortmund - January, 2026 - 17 years, 1 month, 14 days
2. Malachi Fagan-Walcott vs RB Leipzig - March, 2020 - 17 years, 11 months, 28 days
3. Frank Saul vs Feyenoord - November, 1961 - 18 years, 2 months, 9 days
4. Kazaiah Sterling vs APOEL - December, 2017 - 19 years, 27 days
5. Oliver Skipp vs Crvena zvezda - November, 2019 - 19 years, 1 month, 21 days
6. Ryan Sessegnon vs Crvena zvezda - November, 2019 - 19 years, 5 months, 19 days
7. Josh Onomah vs Bayer Leverkusen - October, 2016 - 19 years, 5 months, 21 days
8. Archie Gray vs Bodo/Glimt - September, 2025 - 19 years, 6 months, 18 days
9. Lucas Bergvall vs Villarreal - September, 2025 - 19 years, 7 months, 14 days
10. Juan Foyth vs APOEL - December, 2017 - 19 years, 10 months, 24 days
