Jonjo Shelvey – Charlton Athletic
Shelvey was a product of Charlton’s youth system and became the youngest Charlton player, and fifth on our list, when he appeared for the Addicks vs Barnsley at the tender age of 16 years 59 days on April 26 2008. Barnsley beat Charlton 3-0 that day. Shelvey also became Chalrton’s youngest goalscorer when he scored in FA Cup vs Norwich aged just 16 years 310 days.
Liverpool, impressed by the prodigious youngster, signed the then 18-year-old from Charlton for an initial fee of £1.7m on April 28 2010. He was loaned out to Blackpool for a three month spell in 2011, scoring six goals in a 10 match run, before a return to Liverpool. A £4m move to Swansea followed in the summer of 2013, Shelvey having played 69 times for the Reds, scoring seven times.
The now 24-year-old played 96 games for Swansea, scoring 10 times and laying on 18 assists for the Welsh side before his next move. Currently the midfielder plays for struggling Newcastle after a big-money £9m transfer to the Tynesiders during this January’s transfer window.
Next up is a now-retired player who hit the big times after getting a Posh kickstart.
