Noah Anyadike becomes youngest player in EFL Cup after Cardiff debut

Noah Anyadike, a 15-year-old Cardiff City defender, became the youngest player in EFL Cup history when he started Cardiff’s 2-1 second-round defeat to Norwich City on August 25, 2026, after being called into the side amid a defensive injury crisis.

Anyadike was 15 years and 98 days old when he made the appearance, breaking the previous record set by Harvey Elliot for Fulham against Millwall in 2018 at 15 years and 174 days. The Wales youth international was handed a senior debut by manager Brian Barry-Murphy and was deployed at centre-back for the match.

Cardiff manager Brian Barry-Murphy said Anyadike is "making exceptional strides" and is definitely "the best option for this game based on how well he’s done" in the academy. Barry-Murphy's comments were made in the context of selecting the teenager during the club's defensive injury problems.

Club staff have observed that Anyadike is "very big for his age" and noted he possesses the physical characteristics the coaches consider useful for senior football. While his primary position is centre-back, the coaching staff report he has shown the ability to operate wide when required.

Anyadike drew first-team attention during the summer preseason, notably featuring as a substitute in a 4-1 victory over Roma. Because he remains in school, Cardiff say they will carefully manage his transition into senior-level football.

Anyadike may feature again imminently: he might make his EFL Championship debut on Saturday when Cardiff play Sheffield United.