Meet the record-breakers & future stars given EFL Cup chance

Teenage goalkeeper Jack Porter became nan youngest subordinate to commencement a lucifer for Arsenal erstwhile he made his elder debut successful nan Carabao Cup connected Wednesday.

At 16 years and 72 days old, Porter replaced Cesc Fabregas - who played successful this title aged 16 years and 177 days successful 2003 - arsenic nan youngest subordinate to statement up for nan Gunners erstwhile they beat Bolton 5-1 successful nan 3rd round.

Seen by galore arsenic an inconvenience successful an already congested calendar, nan EFL Cup remains basal erstwhile it comes to blooding emerging Premier League talent.

From early England stars Wayne Rooney, John Terry and David Beckham each making their first-team debuts successful nan competition, to 'Klopp's Kids' - a group of young Liverpool players who guided nan Reds to nan 2024 trophy - it has often provided a level for youngsters to impress.

This season, an 18-year-old winger who has been compared to Kylian Mbappe, an breathtaking Swedish prospect, and a 16-year-old defender are among those to beryllium handed their chance successful nan EFL Cup.

BBC Sport takes a look astatine nan latest harvest of young talent to beryllium handed their first-team debuts successful nan competition.

Arsenal's teenage goalkeeper Porter was handed a daze commencement successful their EFL Cup necktie against Bolton pinch number 1 prime David Raya retired pinch a thigh injury, and summertime signing Neto cup-tied having already played successful nan title for genitor nine Bournemouth.

Porter is highly rated by Arsenal and signed a danasiwa pinch them successful nan summer, pinch Gunners leader Mikel Arteta saying nan 16-year-old often trains pinch nan first team.

The England Under-17s subordinate was portion of nan squad that travelled to Manchester City connected Sunday, and featured connected nan chair for Arsenal’s tie astatine Atalanta.

Porter has made six appearances for nan Arsenal Under-18s, conceding 12 goals and keeping 1 cleanable sheet.

Manchester City centre-half Kaden Braithwaite made his elder debut successful Tuesday's 2-1 triumph complete Watford.

At 16 years and 229 days, he is nan third-youngest subordinate to make their afloat debut for nan nine and nan youngest to ever beryllium selected by Pep Guardiola since nan Spaniard joined nan club.

Manchester-born Braithwaite, who tin besides beryllium deployed astatine left-back aliases driblet successful arsenic a protect midfielder wherever needed, is different merchandise of City's academy.

Having joined astatine under-9s level, he made nan measurement up to under-18s for nan 2024-25 season, but anterior to Monday had ne'er trained pinch nan first-team squad.

But arsenic Guardiola looked to nan academy to negociate his squad successful an progressively packed schedule, nan versatile youngster impressed nan City leader capable to make nan measurement up.

Braithwaite has featured successful each 4 of City's under-18s games this play arsenic good arsenic playing for England's under-17s wherever he scored successful a 3-1 triumph complete Germany successful September.

Manchester United midfielder Toby Collyer made a astonishment quality arsenic a half-time substitute successful their Premier League nonaccomplishment to Liverpool, but nan 20-year-old made his afloat first-team debut successful United's 7-0 triumph complete Barnsley successful nan EFL Cup past week.

Collyer joined nan Red Devils from Brighton successful 2022 - nan only signing made nether erstwhile head Ralf Rangnick - and has since been a regular for nan under-21s.

At Brighton, Collyer was praised for his cognition and work-rate, and signed a caller statement pinch United this summertime until 2027.

Primarily a protect midfielder, Collyer's performances successful pre-season impressed leader Erik 10 Hag and nan academy postgraduate mightiness bask a breakout play astatine Old Trafford this year.

Sweden midfielder Lucas Bergvall has already generated excitement since arriving astatine Tottenham successful nan summertime for £8.5m from Swedish broadside Djurgarden, having turned down Barcelona to subordinate nan northbound London club.

The woody was agreed successful nan wintertime transportation window, but nan 18-year-old opted to enactment successful Sweden until nan extremity of nan season, seen by galore arsenic a motion of his maturity.

The teenage midfielder has featured successful 4 retired of Spurs' 5 Premier League matches this season, made his world debut successful nan Nations League successful September, and was handed his first commencement successful nan 2-1 EFL Cup triumph complete Coventry past week.

Bergvall is yet to afloat set to life successful nan Premier League - goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario berated him aft giving nan shot distant against Leicester - but head Ange Postecoglou praised nan youngster for his "fearlessness".

Bergvall thinks of himself arsenic a box-to-box midfielder, but will person to set to nan gait of nan apical formation - and crippled clip successful nan EFL Cup could beryllium vital.

Aston Villa winger Kadan Young made his elder debut for nan nine successful their 2-1 triumph complete Wycombe Wanderers.

The Erdington-born 18-year-old made nan move from section nine Phoenix United to Villa’s under-13s and has remained astatine nan Birmingham nine ever since, signing a danasiwa successful 2022.

On nan fringes of nan first squad for overmuch of this season, Young was named successful matchday squads against Everton and Wolves arsenic good arsenic featuring regularly for England’s younker sides.

His gait down nan wings and expertise to hit a man caused 1 erstwhile coach to tie comparisons to Real Madrid guardant Kylian Mbappe.

It was Young's clever helping play that led to Emi Buendia opening nan scoring against Wycombe connected Tuesday, and his committedness has prompted Villa to springiness him a caller semipermanent contract.

Manchester City leader Guardiola said aft his side's triumph complete Watford he would play nan 2nd squad successful nan EFL Cup going guardant because of their engaged schedule.

That intends plentifulness of opportunities for City's plethora of academy talent - a strategy that has already produced nan likes of Phil Foden, Rico Lewis and James McAtee.

Along pinch Braithwaite, midfielder Nico O'Reilly, 19, was fixed nan motion against Watford successful nan cup.

After joining nan academy arsenic an eight-year-old, O'Reilly went connected to play regularly for nan under-18s successful nan 2021-22 season, winning nan property group's Premier League title.

The pursuing play he made 32 appearances, scoring 13 goals and making 14 assists, and was rewarded pinch first-team appearances successful pre-season this twelvemonth earlier coming connected arsenic a substitute successful nan Community Shield against Manchester United.

Right-back Josh Nichols grew up supporting Arsenal, and aft tests astatine Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham, joined nan Gunners aged eight.

The 18-year-old signed his first master statement pinch nan nine this summertime and impressed connected their pre-season circuit of nan United States.

The teen made his elder debut successful nan EFL Cup third-round triumph complete Bolton.

He made 31 appearances for Arsenal’s academy sides past season, including each six group games successful nan Uefa Youth League.

Nichols grew up arsenic a striker but quickly transitioned into becoming a winger and now plays arsenic an attacking full-back, wherever he impressed connected Wednesday against Bolton.