Tom Cannon (footballer)
A sharp-shooting Irish striker who made his Premier League mark with a goal just minutes into his debut for Everton.
Born 2002 (age 24)·Irish footballer·Birthday: December 28·Generation Z
Biography
Tom Cannon's career trajectory is a classic tale of Premier League promise. A product of Everton's academy, the Dublin-born striker spent years honing his instinct for goal in youth sides, known for his clever movement and clinical finishing. His breakthrough moment arrived in the pressure cooker of a Premier League match in late 2022. Coming on as a substitute against Bournemouth, Cannon needed just a handful of minutes to find the net, announcing his arrival with the immediate impact every young player dreams of. That instant success led to a loan spell at Preston North End, where he continued to score regularly in the Championship, proving his debut was no fluke. His form earned him a senior call-up for the Republic of Ireland, the nation he chose to represent internationally. Cannon's story is still in its early chapters, defined by a striker's most valuable currency: the ability to deliver goals when the spotlight turns on.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Tom was born in 2002, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tom Was Born
The biggest hits of 2002
#1 Movie
Spider-Man
Best Picture
Chicago
#1 TV Show
Friends
Tom's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2002Born
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2007Started school
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2015Became a teenager
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Could drive
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2020Could vote
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2023Turned 21
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 24 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored a goal just four minutes into his Premier League debut for Everton as a substitute in November 2022.
- Earned his first senior cap for the Republic of Ireland national team in 2023.
- Scored eight goals in 20 appearances during a productive loan spell at Preston North End in the EFL Championship.
- Secured a permanent transfer to Leicester City in 2023, moving for a reported multi-million pound fee.
Did You Know?
He was born in Liverpool, England, but qualifies for the Republic of Ireland through his grandparents.
He was the top scorer for Everton's Under-23 side before his first-team breakthrough.
His goal on his Everton debut made him the first Irish player to score for the club since 2016.
He joined Leicester City shortly after their relegation from the Premier League, signing a five-year contract.
“You have to be ready when your chance comes in front of goal.”
