We have compared the average age of each Premier League squad, broken down by position, to find out which areas of the field are more suited to older or younger players in England’s top flight.
It’s often said in football that age is ‘just a number’, and that if a young player is good enough, they are old enough to feature regularly.
Equally, if a veteran is still capable of playing at the highest level well into their 30s, many would say there is no need to replace them with an up-and-coming youngster.
But how much do this year’s Premier League clubs follow either viewpoint?
To find out, we at SportsCasting have analysed the average ages of every squad in the Premier League and found the average age of each positional group.
Key Highlights:
- Goalkeepers are the oldest position in the Premier League on average (30.74 years old).
- Midfielders are the youngest on average (25.96 years old).
- The overall average age in the Premier League is 26.76 years old.
- Brentford have the youngest average squad age (24.76)
- Fulham have the oldest average squad age (29.06)
Premier League Average Age By Position
Below, we have broken down the average age of each positional group in the Premier League.
We have compared the data for goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and attackers
Goalkeepers – Average Age 30.74
The first observation from the data is that goalkeepers are by far the oldest positional group on average.
Premier League keepers are under immense pressure, playing in one of the world’s toughest leagues.
As a result, teams tend to favour experience when selecting a number one between the sticks.
While there are some younger keepers around, it’s rare to see a first-choice Premier League keeper under 25.
And with keepers not needed to rely on the explosive power and acceleration of some outfield roles, age tends to catch up with them more slowly than other positions.
These factors combined have all led to Premier League goalkeepers being the oldest position on average in the league.
Defence – Average Age 26.66
Although not the youngest positional group, defenders are much younger on average than goalkeepers in the Premier League.
This is because while experience is necessary, many modern centre-backs rely on elite physical attributes and athleticism, which will favour younger players.
On top of this, the role of the modern fullback is incredibly demanding, with players expected to be involved in the attack and then track back and defend for 90 minutes.
This, again, means that many older players will struggle with the physical demands, while high-energy youngsters can run all day.
Midfielders – Average Age 25.96
The youngest position on average in the Premier League is midfielders, at 25.96 years old.
There are a number of probably reasons for this.
Firstly, midfield positions tend to cover among the highest distance per game.
This places a massive physical demand on players, which will mean clubs favour younger, more athletic individuals who can cover the ground and be effective between both boxes.
The sheer volume of work expected of a Premier League midfielder means that many older players are not able to keep up that intensity for as many years.
And secondly, the middle of the park is an area perhaps best suited for giving youngsters game time.
There isn’t the pressure of scoring that comes with an attacking role, or the likelihood of being exposed and punished for one error like a defender or keeper would be.
Attackers – Average Age 27.48
And finally, attackers are the second-oldest positional group in the Premier League, averaging 27.48 years old.
The reason for this likely comes down to the experience needed to be an elite attacker.
Premier League clubs will prefer to sign proven goal-scorers that are known quantities, rather than put their faith in a 20-year-old who is still developing.
Those youngsters will be given minutes and play at times. But it takes years at the top for most players to build consistency and perform regularly.
Which Premier League Club Has The Highest Average Age?
As well as breaking down the average age of Premier League players by position, we can also reveal how old each squad is on average.
As the data shows, Brentford have the youngest squad in the Premier League, at 24.76, closely followed by Sunderland (24.79).
Both clubs have put their faith in youth this season, which is often a calculated risk in football.
If the gamble pays off, clubs have a squad with a high ceiling that will continue to develop and improve.
But a lack of experience can hurt teams when the going gets tough, especially if there aren’t enough leaders in the dressing room.
So far, it seems the Black Cats’ risk has been rewarded. Sunderland won the Championship Playoff Final last season, but are now fifth in the table after six games, and only four points below leaders Arsenal.
At the other end of the age spectrum, Fulham, Everton, Newcastle United and West Ham have the oldest squads in the Premier League.
There is a balance to be struck between youth and experience, though.
Too much of an ageing squad can be just as harmful. It can cause a lack of energy on the pitch, and some big egos and clashing personalities off of it.
Noticeably, Liverpool and Manchester City sit right in the middle of the average age table.
The two clubs have dominated the Premier League in recent seasons, winning the last eight between them.
Both appear to have perfectly blended youth and experience when building their title-winning squads.
