The year 2023 marked a period of significant changes for Paris Saint-Germain, including the arrival of Luis Enrique as the new head coach and the addition of key players like Ousmane Dembele, Kolo Muani, and Lucas Hernández. Amidst these notable developments, a surprising standout emerged in the squad—Warren Emery.

Who is Warren Emery?

Warren Zaïre-Emery is a 17-year-old French footballer born on March 8, 2006, in Montreuil. His father, a former footballer, played for Red Star de Saint-Denis. Emery began playing football at the age of four and joined PSG's youth academy at eight, showcasing his skills as a midfielder.

Professional Debut

Zaïre-Emery signed his first professional contract with PSG in 2022, making his debut on August 6 of the same year in a 5-0 victory over Clermont. At just 16 years and five months old, he became the youngest player to feature for the club.

Rapid Rise

On October 25 of the same year, he made his UEFA Champions League debut, becoming the youngest player in PSG history to participate in the tournament. He continued to break records, featuring in the Coupe de France against Châteauroux in January 2023 and becoming the youngest player to represent Les Parisiens in the cup. In February, he played in the PSG vs. Bayern Munich Round of 16 match, setting a record as the youngest player in history to play in the knockout stage.

Record-Breaking Perfomances

After winning his first Ligue 1 title with PSG in May, Emery kicked off the 2023-24 season with notable achievements. On August 26, he registered his first assist against Lens, setting a record as the youngest PSG player to provide an assist in the French league. He repeated this feat in the Champions League with an assist against Newcastle on October 4. On December 13, he scored his first goal in the European competition against Borussia Dortmund, becoming the youngest French player to score in the tournament's history.

Consolidation And International Call-Up

Following his rapid ascent, Emery became a key player under Luis Enrique, securing a permanent spot in the team. His impressive performances caught the attention of Didier Deschamps, the coach of the French national team, leading to Emery's debut for Les Blues. In France's overwhelming 14-0 victory over Gibraltar, Warren scored, becoming the second-youngest French player to achieve this feat. This concludes Emery's spectacular 2023, setting high expectations for an even better 2024.