Manchester United and Arsenal target Ethan Ampadu wins man-of-the-match award on debut aged just 15
Defensive starlet became Exeter City's youngest ever player last night while Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon also starred in EFL Cup
ETHAN AMPADU became the youngest player to play for Exeter City aged just 15 years and 331 days - and won Man of the Match.
The Manchester United and Arsenal target, who can play anywhere across the back four, starred with a mature display as League 2 Grecians beat Championship side Brentford 1-0.
Ampadu broke Exeter's record set by the great Cliff Bastin, who was 16 years and one month when he made his Grecians debut back in 1928 - before to leaving for the Gunners, where he became their third all-time leading goalscorer.
The Wales Under-16 international was only called up to the first-team because he is on school holiday.
Ampadu is reportedly wanted by all the country's top clubs and has been hard at work impressing first-team staff while on his summer holiday, having not even done his GCSE's.
Ethan is the son of former West Brom, Swansea, Leyton Orient and Exeter midfielder Kwame Ampadu - who is currently an academy coach at Arsenal.
"That's not normally the English way - we like drama, we like spark. But we don't often encourage and cultivate subtle, classy players, and he's one of those."
"He finished school and he came straight in to train with the first team. I said 'come in when you want and if you want to go on holiday with your family then you go away' - well he's been in every day over his school holidays.
"It became particularly apparent within three or four weeks that the rest of the squad suddenly had the utmost respect for his ability to play and they treated him like any other first-team player.
Sessegnon is regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in England and has been compared to a young Gareth Bale.
Arsenal tried to sign him in January but failed with a bid, but are still interested in him, while Liverpool are also in the race for his signature.
And Cottagers' boss Slavisa Jokanovic has tipped him to be an important player in English football - but thinks he should not leave and continue his promising development at Craven Cottage.