The Premier League's youngest goalscorer now works as a sporting director, aged 34

The Premier League's youngest goalscorer, James Vaughan, is now sporting director at Tranmere Rovers after retiring.

Vaughan made his senior Everton debut back in April 2005 after David Moyes chose to bring him on against Crystal Palace.

Aged 16 years and 271 days, he popped up to score in the 87th minute and help the Toffees to a 4-0 win.

He eclipsed the record previously held by James Milner and looked destined to be a mainstay in Everton's team, just like another teenage sensation who burst onto the scene a few years prior.

"People will make comparisons with Wayne Rooney but they are different players," assistant manager Allan Irvine told reporters after the game.

Alamy

"It was terrific for him just to get on so to score made it a dream debut.

"Young players tend to get their chance when you end up with no-one else to put in."

Vaughan would end up suffering a serious knee injury the following season while on international duty with England Under-18s.

It impacted his development at a young age and he'd go on to score nine goals in 60 games at Goodison Park, with only eight of those being starts.

After loan spells with Derby County, Leicester City and ironically Palace, he signed for Norwich City on a permanent basis in 2011.

The Canaries were back in the Premier League but Vaughan would be limited to five appearances after more injury woes.

It ended up being his last crack at top-flight football and he played for seven different clubs before returning to Merseyside with Tranmere Rovers in 2020.

Alamy

He scored 18 goals in 29 appearances in a bid to get Tranmere promoted from League Two, but they didn't manage to win the play-offs.

Vaughan announced his retirement in May 2021, but wouldn't stay away from the game for long.

Now 34, he's back at Tranmere as sporting director while completing a master's in sporting directorship.

He explained: "Having been around the club for two years now and having spoken with the Chairman, I am excited about being able to be part of the project going forwards.

"I have always had a good relationship with Micky [Mellon] both as a player and working with him as part of the team involved in building the current squad over the last six months."