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Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football

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From Warren Zaïre-Emery to Endrick, we select some of the best players born in 2006. Check the progress of our classes of 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018

Football

Next Generation 2017: 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs

The Guardian picks the best prospect from each club born between 1 September 2000 and 31 August 2001, an age band known as first-year scholars. Check the progress of our 2016 class | 2015 | 2014

Moslem Anatouf
It isn’t common to list an intangible as a young player’s greatest attribute, yet Anatouf’s greatest strength as a footballer is his football IQ. While he isn’t the tallest or strongest striker, his instincts in the penalty area are elite, and his intelligence greatly contributes to his team’s buildup play. Hailing from the remote province of Tindouf in the south-western reaches of the Algerian Sahara desert, Anatouf has swiftly climbed the ranks of the youth national teams to earn the captain’s armband for the under-17 national squad. He has often shown incredible maturity for his age, rallying his teammates after setbacks. His exceptional performance in the regional Under-17 UNAF tournament earned him the title of the tournament’s best player, and he further distinguished himself by scoring all three of Algeria’s goals at the 2023 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations. After cutting his teeth at an Algerian football federation academy, he secured a transfer to Mouloudia Club of Algiers, Algeria’s largest football club, during the summer. While he is expected to start with the reserves, it would come as no surprise if this young prodigy makes his debut for the senior squad sometime during the upcoming season. Maher Mezahi
Watch Moslem Anatouf in action

October 2024 update After signing for eventual Algerian champions Mouloudia of Algiers, Anatouf sustained a knee ligament injury that has sidelined him for nearly a year. He is currently undergoing rehab and is expected to return to action in the coming months.
Claudio Echeverri
Born in Chaco, Echeverri is an authentic River Plate academy product. Talented with excellent close control and dribbling skills, owing to an exceptional first touch, he is a first-rate passer of the ball and can score too. He is a classic No 10 in a similar vein to other River graduates, such as Ariel Ortega, Marcelo Gallardo and Pablo Aimar. He exploded onto the international scene at the South American Under-17 championship and will lead the charge as his country aim to claim the only title they are now missing: the Under-17 World Cup. Has already been training with the senior national team, impressing – among others – Ángel Di María with his playing style and attitude. A promotion to River Plate’s first-team squad under Martín Demichelis followed and he has made four appearances at the time of writing. Juan Carlos Pasman

October 2024 update Snapped up by Manchester City shortly after his 18th birthday in January, ‘El Diablito’ failed in his bid to win the U-17s World Cup with Argentina late last year, but has enjoyed a vertiginous rise since. Argentina crashed out at the semi-final stage of the Indonesia World Cup to Germany on penalties with Echeverri captaining the side. But he returned to River as part of the City deal to keep him in Argentina until January 2025 and immediately established himself in the first team. His form earned him a place on the plane to Paris for this summer’s Olympics where he scored against Ukraine. In September he paid a visit to his old working-class barrio of Río Villa Negro for a kickaround with his old mates. “Despite the rain, he had no hesitation in playing barefoot just like he used to when he used to play on the same pitch that today bears his name,” a neighbour told local media.
Gianluca Prestianni
In July it looked like Prestianni was about to join Porto, but in the end he decided to stay to help Vélez Sarsfield avoid relegation. Europe could wait. A very fast, skilful player who is superb in one-v-ones, his talent is such that he became the youngest ever player to represent Vélez’s first team at the age of 16 years, three months and 22 days in a Copa Libertadores game last year. Scored his first league goal in March 2023 and has 37 appearances for the first team at the time of writing. It has not always been easy though, as he told ESPN: "I'd talk to my family and I'd sometimes feel under a lot of pressure. I get stressed or tired and I have to try and live with that, which is a lot, but I've got great support and I'm happy with it all." Next up? Trying to steer Argentina to Under-17 World Cup glory in Indonesia. Juan Carlos Pasman

October 2024 update Having flirted with Porto not long back, he instead signed for their bitter rivals Benfica at the start of the year after rescuing Vélez Sarsfield from relegation but missing out on a place in the Argentina team at the U-17s World Cup in Indonesia. Further disappointment awaited in Europe, with Prestianni handed a total of just three minutes playing time at the Estádio da Luz last season following his €9m move. All signs pointed to a summer exit, with a year-long loan to Ajax or PSV being posited in the Portuguese press. But the 18-year-old midfielder made such an impression on the Benfica manager, Roger Schmidt, in pre-season that he stayed put in Lisbon and has since featured in every game for the 38-time Portugese champions at the time of writing (end of September). “The new Ángel di María? No, not at all. I don’t even touch his ankles,” Prestianni told DirecTV Sports. “It’s great that they compare me with a world champions but it must just be because we play in the same position.”
Nestory Irankunda
Irankunda has left the Australian football community breathless several times in the past two years with his precocious dribbling and eye for a spectacular goal. Since making his senior A-League debut with Adelaide United as a 15-year-old in 2022, the winger has scored belter after belter. Seemingly incapable of taking an easy shot, he has a knack for shimmying past defenders and thumping the ball into the top corner from the tightest of angles. Rumours of a move to Bayern Munich have been swirling for months, but given his 18th birthday falls outside the transfer window, Adelaide should be able to hold on to him for one more season. Nearly became the youngest Socceroo ever when he was called up to the senior squad in March, and the Australian media has struggled to avoid getting ahead of itself, labelling Irankunda the most exciting young footballer ever to come out of the domestic league. Jo Khan
Watch Nestory Irankunda in action

October 2024 update Completed his move from Adelaide to Bayern Munich in the off-season and appears to have impressed Vincent Kompany and his staff early; remaining in Bavaria rather than being sent out on loan and even registered in Bayern’s Champions League squad. After a bizarre saga surrounding his absence from Australia’s squad for the AFC Under-23 Championship, he made his Socceroos debut in World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Palestine and already appears set to become a regular in squads.
Oliver Lukic
Lukic has always been taller than his peers – and he now stands at 6ft 1in at 17 years of age, but that has not caused any problems with it comes to his ball control. Technically sublime and very elegant, he stood out at the Austria Wien academy, and Dinamo Zagreb tried to lure him to his parents’ homeland before Red Bull Salzburg appeared, as they often do. It is difficult to resist an offer to join the best club in Austria, especially when they are famous for promoting young talents. Lukic joined them in the summer of 2022 and this May he made his debut for Liefering, Salzburg’s reserves who play in the second division. He has began this campaign as a regular starter and looks destined to become part of Salzburg’s first-team squad in the near future. Has played for Austria Under-18s and the senior national team coach, Ralf Rangnick, says that he is monitoring his progress closely, especially with the Croatian FA sure to make an attempt to convince him to represent them. Watch this space. Michael Yokhin

October 2024 update Switched to RB Salzburg this summer and was suddenly thrust into the middle of the action when the new coach, Pep Lijnders, included him in the squad for their Champions League playoff qualifier - and then put him on in the 69th minute. "When you have the quality, the age doesn't matter," his teammate Mads Bidstrup said after the game.
Julien Duranville
Duranville used to be the showpiece of Anderlecht’s Purple Talents, their youth academy. When Vincent Kompany was still Anderlecht’s manager, in 2022, he handed the youngster his debut and it is easy to see why. Duranville’s best qualities are his pace and acceleration – but he has skills too. Some scouts have put him in the same bracket as Kylian Mbappé and Jérémy Doku, but those comparisons are unfair. His injury record already has a few entries and they have slowed down his progress. Dortmund signed him at the start of this year, while he was recovering from a serious hamstring injury. At the time of writing he has played one game as a substitute. During pre-season he got injured again but Dortmund are hoping he will be able to establish himself this season. Kristof Terreur
Watch Julien Duranville in action

October 2024 update The injuries persisted but he was still handed his Bundesliga debut in February against Hoffenheim. At the start of the 2024-25 season the new manager, Nuri Sahin, signalled that the Belgian would be given more chances but he then suffered a hamstring injury in October, which ruled him out for several weeks. Before that he had even played his first game for Belgium at the age of 18, against Israel.
Kauã Elias
Elias has all the qualities a centre-forward needs. He is fast, strong and has a great ability to finish with only one touch. He was the star of the Brazilian team that won the South American Under-17 Championship in Ecuador and is a certain starter for that age group's World Cup in Indonesia. His strength in shielding the ball and being able to carry it upfield, shrugging off defenders, has led to comparisons to the former Internazionale striker Adriano. At the start of his career though, he was not always playing up front. “He was a midfielder, a No 10,” says José Elias, his grandfather who has meant so much for the young players. “But when he arrived at Fluminense, the coach put him at centre-forward. I didn’t like it at all and thought about taking him out of the club, but it was the right decision. Kauã is a goalscoring machine.” Thiago Rabelo

October 2024 update It has not been a good season for Fluminense, the 2023 Libertadores champions, but Kauã Elias has been a rare glimmer of hope. He has scored some important goals and has been praised by important players such as Thiago Silva.
Endrick
As well as winning every competition possible at youth level, with 86 goals in 121 appearances, centre-forward Endrick is also the youngest player to make his debut for Palmeiras and score a goal in the Brazilian Championship in its current format, which has been place since 2003. Has already agreed to join Real Madrid in a deal worth €35m (£26m) that could reach €70m if add-on clauses are triggered. There Endrick is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, two Brazilian players who were signed by Los Blancos before the age of 18 before becoming huge stars in Spain. Has yet to play 50 games as a professional player but knows exactly what he wants in the future. “One of the best moments of my career was to score a goal in a final for Palmeiras,” he said about the goal against Água Santa in the Campeonato Paulista. “It’s an indescribable feeling that I would like to repeat many times in my life.” Thiago Rabelo
Watch Endrick in action

October 2024 update A player destined to make history in world football. He was the star of the last campaign in Brazil, taking Palmeiras to the title. For the Seleção, he became the fourth youngest player to score a goal. Now, having joined Real Madrid in the summer, he became the youngest Brazilian to score in the Champions League. Many players take time to adapt to a new team and a new country but not, it seems, Endrick.
Luis Guilherme
Football is a simple sport for Luis Guilherme. A midfielder with refined technique, speed and excellent finishing, he is gaining more and more admirers every day. One of them is, handily, his coach at Palmeiras, Abel Ferreira, a two-time Copa Libertadores winner who said Guilherme impressed him from the very first moment. He is even admired in Japan. "We played in a tournament in Japan and Luis scored over 40 goals,” says João Paulo Sampaio, Palmeiras' youth director. “The Japanese players were scared of him. But Luis doesn't get carried away. He knows the potential he has. He's a very special player.” Guilherme has been at Palmeiras since 2017, when he was 11 years old, and is considered one of the next jewels in Brazil’s football crown, alongside Endrick. Some even believe he will have an even brighter future than his club teammate. Palmeiras already know that he will leave at some point, it is only a question of when and to which club. Thiago Rabelo

October 2024 update Had not even had time to really establish himself at Palmeiras in the way Endrick did, but was still sold for £25m to West Ham in June.
Vitor Reis
It is not always easy being a centre-back in Brazilian football. The spotlight is often on the attacking players and especially so in a year group as promising as the 2006 one. However, even in an environment where defenders can be marginalised, Vitor Reis has been gaining more and more prominence with some remarkable performances. A fast, well-balanced player with excellent positioning, he is the standout defender of his generation. He has been captain of Palmeiras and the Brazilian national team at age-group levels and has one particular Seleção defender as his main reference point. "I’ve always looked up to Marquinhos,” he has said. “I always watch his games and I'm inspired by his attitude on and off the pitch.” Playing in midfield or up front was never really an option for Reis, as his mother, Ana Maria, recalls. "When he was seven, the coach told him he was going to be a centre-back and he liked the idea. I didn't know what to think about it because I didn't even know what a centre-back was at the time. But the coach was right.” Thiago Rabelo

October 2024 update Was promoted to the Palmeiras first team even earlier than expected and, once there, he produced some great performances and scored some important goals too. The defender has attracted the interest of European clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Valentin Yotov
Born in Boston to Bulgarian parents, Yotov’s family moved to Munich in 2018 where his father, a professor in economics, had landed a job. In the Bavarian capital, Yotov had a trial with 1860 Munich and Bayern with the latter offering him a place in their famous academy. Today the 17-year-old Yotov, who acquired a lot of his technical skills while playing futsal in the United States, is part of Bayern's and Bulgaria’s under-19 set-ups. He can play equally well as a No 10 as a pure striker with England's Jadon Sancho being one of his favourite players. Metodi Shumanov

October 2024 update Yotov remains with the Under-19s at Bayern and will be hoping to potentially join Bayern’s reserve team at some point; the last stepping stone on the way to the star-packed senior squad.
Ousmane Camara
From a technical standpoint, Camara has nothing to envy from anyone on this year’s NextGen roster. As a tall and lanky left-footed winger that plays on the right side of the attacking line, his tendency to cut in and play through balls to his strikers has drawn natural comparisons to his compatriot Bertrand Traoré. Camara shone both at the 2023 Under-17 WAFU qualifying tournament, where he scored five goals in five matches, and at the 2023 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria, where, alongside his strike partner, Souleymane Alio, Camara led the Stallions to a third-place finish. The dynamic duo will most definitely be on every scout’s list of names to watch at the upcoming 2023 Under-17 World Cup in Indonesia. Maher Mezahi

October 2024 update Camara is on track for a promising career, having secured regular playing time in the Latvian league and earning two call-ups to the senior national team.
Brayan Mateo Caicedo Ramos
“All his teammates call him Mbappé. He looks a bit like him and he certainly plays like him,” says the Colombia Under-20 assistant coach, Freddy Hurtado. “From the first day I met him, I knew he was very special.” Until a couple of years ago, Caicedo was a complete unknown, lost in the violence-torn southern region of his Nariño homeland. But in recent months interest in the devastatingly quick winger has mushroomed. At the Under-17s South American championship in April, Caicedo excelled and more than 20 offers from Europe’s top clubs subsequently flooded in. Porto currently lead the chase, but until Caicedo turns 18 next year the dazzling youngster, now with the national under-20s, will remain in Colombia. On his professional debut while out on loan at second division Leones from the amateur club Cyclones a few months ago, Caicedo, still 16, was named man of the match despite playing only 29 minutes. “There is magic in those legs,” says Luis Angulo, the scout that discovered the raw prodigious talent playing at his father Wilson’s La Gambeta football school. “He’s always wanting to learn, asking for advice. And if he continues to improve, he’ll go very far.” Carl Worswick

October 2024 update Followed in the steps of the Colombian stars James Rodríguez and Radamel Falcao by signing for Porto upon turning 18 in August this year. “I want to score lots of goals in this shirt,” the Tumaco-born winger announced after signing a five-year deal. He will initially link up with the Porto club’s B-team, who play in the Portuguese second division.
Noa Skoko
The brightest Croatian talent of his generation actually comes from Australia – and was born in England, where his father Josip, a former Socceroo of Croatian descent, played for Wigan and Stoke. Noa is quite like his dad in terms of playing style – a box-to-box midfielder who can contribute a lot in both directions – but his vast potential could see him reach greater heights. “He is an abnormal talent when it comes to creation and he learns extremely fast,” Toni Golem, his former youth coach at Hajduk, says. “Also, he doesn’t turn off, he runs all game.” Aged 17, Skoko was a part of the Hajduk team that reached the Uefa Youth League final, beating the likes of Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund on the way; he’s now the key player for the club’s under-19 side and expected to get his full senior debut some time this season. Aleksandar Holiga

October 2024 update Missed four months of football in order to recover from mononucleosis, but has returned on the right track and has been developing well since then. After signing a new contract with the club and making four cameo appearances since his debut late last season, a true chance with the senior side is surely just a matter of time.
Tobias Slotsager
Slotsager made his debut for Odense in the top flight in March, and has not relinquished his place since. Strong and tactically astute way beyond his age, he almost feels like a leader of the team, despite playing next to the veteran defender Bjørn Paulsen. He finished the 2022-23 campaign strongly and has started the new one in the same vein, with one of the best percentages of duels won in the entire Superligaen. Tonny Hermansen, who coached him in the academy, said: “Tobias is a player with huge potential and we believe that he could go really far.” Despite all the praise and the hype, Slotsager keeps his feet on the ground and continues to work hard in every training session. Having started as a striker in the youth teams, he was unlucky to have a goal disallowed by a controversial VAR decision on his debut, but has the ability to score frequent goals when going up for set pieces. Michael Yokhin

October 2024 update After being first choice for Odense for the 2023-24 season Slotsager was dropped at the start of the current campaign but the manager, Søren Krogh, denied that it had anything to do with the defender's contract situation. "Other players have been ahead of him in the queue," he said. "It has nothing to do with politics."
Allen Obando
Born in Quito he moved to Esmeraldas, the region where scouts often go to find new talent, at an early age. At the age of 10 Obando was so good he attracted the attention of the then vice-president – now president – of Barcelona, Carlos Alfaro Moreno. “I had to bring Allen to the club from Esmeraldas at the age of 10 from the BSC soccer school,” he said days after Obando had made his professional debut in 2022. In that game Obando was given the opportunity to take a spot-kick by the regular penalty taker, Damián Díaz, but missed. “He is very calm, very cold,” says his father, Carlos. “When he missed that penalty in 2022 he simply said that he didn’t miss the penalty but that the goalkeeper made a very good save." Obando has the characteristics of a classic No 9 with great movement and speed. He is able to hold to the ball up well and is good in the air. He already plays for Barcelona's first team and was in the Ecuador side that finished second in the South American Under-17 Championship. Jaime F Macias

October 2024 updateHe is now regularly involved in the Barcelona first team and scored his first goal for the Guayaquil club from the bench last year, adding to his tally in a 3-0 win over Libertad in April. For his country, he followed up his four appearances at the Under-17s World Cup in November last year in which Ecuador were eliminated in the last 16 by Brazil, with a call-up to La Tri seniors team. “We have seen him play for the youth teams and we consider him to be a player with potential,” the then Ecuador manager Félix Sánchez said after he handed the striker his international debut in a March friendly against Guatemala. On the eve of being elected club president in May, Antonio Álvarez confirmed he’d been invited to Spain to discuss a possible transfer: “Barcelona have been after Allen for months.”
George Ilenikhena
“I’m not thinking about a plan B – in my head, I tell myself that I have to succeed,” admitted the Nigerian-born forward in an interview last year. “The phrase that represents me: ‘Either I win or I learn.’ I don’t like losing, I’m a competitor.” Those qualities – and not to mention the astonishing 24 goals he racked up playing for France’s Under-17s in 2021-22 – attracted the attention of scouts from all over Europe as Ilenikhena made his debut for the Ligue 2 side Amiens last November at the age of 16. He was eventually snapped up by the Belgian double winners Royal Antwerp in the summer for around £5m. “We have been following him for a long time and are therefore pleased that he has chosen us,” said Antwerp’s sporting director, Marc Overmars. “It says something that he wants to continue here.” Born in Lagos, Ilenikhena moved to France at the age of three and grew up in the Parisian suburb of Antony. Ed Aarons

October 2024 update A hugely successful year for Ilenikhena as he not only scored eight goals in 28 Jupiler Pro League appearances but also a late winner against Barcelona in the Champions League as he came on with 11 minutes remaining. Moved to Monaco in the summer on a five-year deal for a fee that could rise to €20m.
Eli Junior Kroupi
It didn’t take long for the baby-faced forward to make an impression on his first Ligue 1 start for Lorient in mid-September. Only 95 seconds had passed when Kroupi – the son of Elie Kroupi, who won the French Cup with Lorient in 2002 – picked up the ball just inside his own half. An inch-perfect through ball allowed Aiyegun Tosin to race through and apply the finish, and, at the time, making him the only player born in 2006 or later to have provided two assists in the five major European leagues. His first goal came against Nantes a week later. Lorient certainly seem to have a gem on their hands. “Being able to follow in my father’s footsteps is a great mark of pride, for him, for my family and of course for me,” said Kroupi when he signed his first professional contract last year despite strong interest from Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain. “I have everything to flourish and progress at Lorient.” The France Under-17 star has also shone at international level, scoring nine goals in nine appearances at the time of writing. Ed Aarons
Watch Eli Junior Kroupi in action

October 2024 update Stayed true to his word and stayed at Lorient, despite them dropping into Ligue 2 in the summer. Has already got four goals in eight Ligue 2 games this season.
Warren Zaïre-Emery
As the son of a former footballer, Zaïre-Emery was taught a useful skill at an early age. “My dad always said that I had to learn to tie my shoes quickly, because he wouldn’t be in the dressing room with me and the coach wouldn’t do it for me,” remembered Paris Saint-Germain’s youngest-ever player. “So yes, I learned quickly, and at five years old I could tie my shoes. So I was tying my teammates’ laces too! It’s that side of me that likes to help people.” The midfielder made 31 appearances for his boyhood club last season and also became the youngest player ever to play in the Champions League’s knockout stages. Used mainly at the base of midfield so far, Zaïre-Emery is tipped to move further up the pitch as his career progresses given his superb technical ability. Thierry Henry named him captain in his first appearance for France’s Under-21 side and a first senior cap probably isn’t too far away. Ed Aarons
Watch Warren Zaïre-Emery in action

October 2024 update Has now played more than 80 games for PSG – at the age of 18 – and continues to be an integral part of Luis Enrique´s midfield. Signed a new contract in April, tying him to the club until 2029. "It's a huge source of pride for me to continue the journey with my boyhood club, the one I've always wanted to play for since I was a child," he said. Was included in France's Euro 2024 squad but did not play a minute.
Aleksandre Peikrishvili
Peikrishvili is considered to be the most gifted player in his year at the Dinamo Tbilisi academy, a club known for producing and nurturing such talents as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Zuriko Davitashvili and Giorgi Mamardashvili among others over the past few years. He is a well built box-to-box midfielder who is a strong but also creative player. On the ball, Peikrishvili can easily move it forward, switch the direction of attacks with long-range balls, deliver the final pass or confidently finish himself. Off the ball, his work-rate, positioning and intelligent pressing are also noteworthy. When it comes to high-profile comparisons, his gameplay strikes a balance between that of Steven Gerrard and Federico Valverde. Peikrishvili has earned caps for Georgia’s under-17, under-18 and under-19 teams, every time before he has reached that age, and recently helped his club clinch the Daraselia Cup, beating teams such as Monza, Genoa and Sevilla. He scored the winning goal against Sevilla in the final, becoming the top goalscorer, and was named player of the tournament. Artur Petrosyan
Watch Aleksandre Peikrishvili in action (goal after 1:27:10)

October 2024 update Made the switch from Dinamo Tbilisi to Dynamo Kyiv this summer, signing a five-year contract with the Ukrainian giants. Made an immediate impact, scoring three goals in his first three starts in the Under-19 league.
Paris Brunner
When Germany won the European Under-17 Championship in June, Brunner was their star. He won the player of the tournament award and was top scorer with four goals. His goal in the quarter-finals against Switzerland was especially important, because Germany were behind and had a player sent off early on, but still came back to draw and win on penalties. Those who have watched Brunner progress at the Dortmund academy will not have been surprised. The striker, remarkably, scored 16 goals in six matches for the under-17s last season, before getting promoted to the under-19 squad. He began the current season by scoring nine times in six appearances, and comparisons to Youssoufa Moukoko have been inevitable. Brunner is a true penalty area poacher with great instincts in front of goal, but also loves to roam around, and can be useful out on the wing too. He is tall, physically imposing, fast and possesses exquisite dribbling skills. Interestingly, he lists the winger Leroy Sané as his role model, not an obvious choice for a young Dortmund player. Sané is at Bayern and he grew up playing for Schalke, Dortmund’s bitter rivals. Michael Yokhin
Watch Paris Brunner in action

October 2024 update It has been an eventful year for the youngster, who left Dortmund for Monaco in August in a €4m deal. He told Sport-Bild: "I got the feeling they really wanted me, and that they had a clear plan for me. At Dortmund it was more Under-19s and then the Under-23s with some training with the first team." Part of Monaco's grand plan was to loan him out to Cercle Brugge where he has already made his debut in the Jupiler Pro League and the Conference League. Has also played his first two games for the Germany Under-19 team.
Noah Darvich
Barcelona are very pleased to have signed Darvich in the summer, before his 16th birthday, for a fee that could rise to €5m. The elegant playmaker, born and raised in Freiburg, has some similarities with Pedri, and is expected to progress very quickly at Barça. Instead of joining players in his age group at La Masia, the German was immediately promoted to the reserve team that play in the third division and are managed by the former player Rafa Márquez. In addition, Darvich was given Pedri’s No 8 when playing for the Under-19 team in the Uefa Youth League. The faith is understandable, especially after the midfielder’s performances at the European Under-17 Championship in June, where he scored two goals and provided four assists as Germany won the title. Bayern Munich and Arsenal were mentioned as potential suitors but Darvich will hope that he made the right decision by moving to Catalonia. Michael Yokhin

October 2024 update Making good progress at Barcelona and also captained Germany to victory at the Under-17 World Cup in Indonesia in November. They beat Spain in the quarter-finals with Darvich saying: "It was a nice feeling. I live with a lot of the Spain players at Barcelona so it made it extra special."
Almugera Kabar
Kabar was the best left-back at the European Under-17 Championship in June, which Germany won in impressive fashion. Attack-minded, direct and very fast, he scored in the 4-0 demolition of Portugal in the first match and excelled with his crosses throughout the tournament. His defensive qualities still need polishing, but the Bremen-born starlet of Libyan origins who joined the Dortmund academy in 2019 is making speedy progress, and Barcelona were reportedly interested in signing him in the summer. Dortmund refused to sell the player, whom they see as a major talent. The under-19 team coach, Mike Tullberg, says: “Kabar brings physicality and aerial strength to our lineup.” Michael Yokhin

October 2024 update Received a huge confidence boost this summer when Dortmund decided against buying a new left-back and instead promoted Kabar to the first team. "It is a brave decision," the sporting director, Lars Ricken said, "but that is the way we do things here at Dortmund. Won the Under-17 World Cup with Germany.
Stefanos Tzimas
Last season was a memorable one for Tzimas. He scored for PAOK’s under-17s, under-19s, the reserves and the first team, becoming, aged 17 years and 57 days, the youngest scorer for the latter, dethroning the club legend Giorgos Koudas. "I'm calm right now. September will be difficult with school and all that," he said after scoring his first goal as a starter in the Super League last August. A two-footed striker, he is a quick thinker, fast and physically mature, which has meant he has been able to play against older opponents for some time now. PAOK's head coach, Razvan Lucescu, is trying to manage the pressure put on the young player, saying: "Let's all be calm. He's 17 years old and you can’t say now where he will end up.” Costas Bratsos

October 2024 update After three goals in 15 Greek Super League appearances he joined the 2. Bundesliga side Nuremberg on season-long loan in the summer. "I am delighted to join the club and look forward to learn a lot from [the head coach] Miroslav Klose and have a successful season with the team."
Áron Yaakobishvili
The good thing for Barcelona was that they did not need to travel to Budapest to scout Yaakobishvili. When the player was 11 his mother got a job in Catalonia and just a year later he was spotted playing for a small local club. That’s how the adventure began, and these days Yaakobishvili regularly trains with the first team, trying to stop Robert Lewandowski from scoring. The Hungarian-born goalkeeper has been considered a top prospect in La Masia for five years now, and was recently promoted to Barcelona’s reserve team in the third division. Agile and blessed with great reflexes, Yaakobishvili is also excellent with both feet, a must for a modern goalkeeper. He is also focused and calm – some say he may even be too calm. His father was born in Georgia and has an Israeli passport, which means he has quite a few options when it comes to international football, but Yaakobishvili says he only wants to represent Hungary. Michael Yokhin

October 2024 update Was called up to the first-team squad much sooner than expected when Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a long-term injury, and was on the bench for La Liga and Champions League games. Likely to drop down to the reserves again with the arrival of Wojciech Szczesny but the experience will have whetted his appetite to play at the highest level.
Daníel Gudjohnsen
Could Daniel become the most successful of Eidur Gudjohnsen’s three sons? Pundits in Iceland most certainly believe so. The former Barcelona and Chelsea striker can be proud of all of them, with the 25-year-old Sveinn Aron currently having a decent season at Elfsborg and the 21-year-old Andri enjoying a good spell at Lyngby, on loan from Norrköping. The pair have become important members of the senior national team, but they are some way off their father’s level at the moment. Daniel still hopes to reach it, and his contribution to the Iceland Under-17 team has been very positive. His youth career includes long spells at both Barcelona and Real Madrid – he joined the latter as part of the deal that took Andri there in 2018. Last year, he moved to Malmö, who gave him a three-year contract and plan to make him part of the senior squad by 2024. Michael Yokhin

October 2024 update Has yet to establish himself in the first team and has at the time of writing failed to add to the one Allsvenskan appearance in 2023. There were some reports of interest from Danish clubs – and he wants to play more – but he is staying put for now.
Mattia Mannini
Every coach in Roma’s academy wanted a piece of Mannini this summer. In June, he represented the club’s under-17, under-18 and under-20 teams in their respective end-of-season playoffs – leading the first of those to a title and scoring for the latter as they were eliminated by the eventual champions, Fiorentina. He has played across the midfield and in both full-back spots, but in any position he has shown a talent for both winning possession and progressing it. Called up by José Mourinho for Roma’s Europa League opener against Sheriff this September, he did not ultimately play in that match but a senior debut may not be far away. Nicky Bandini

October 2024 update Mannini did indeed make his first-team debut for Roma during the 2023-34 season, coming on as a late substitute in the return leg against Sheriff. “It was an incredible feeling,” he said. “These are the things you dream of as a kid.” Has yet to add to his first-team tally and is continuing to develop with the Primavera team.
Tommaso Martinelli
There is some disagreement about who is the greatest goalkeeping prospect named Tommaso in Fiorentina’s academy system. Tommaso Vannucchi, born in 2007, has turned down interest from Paris Saint-Germain, but Martinelli, one year his senior, was the second-youngest player called up by the then Italy manager Roberto Mancini for a winter training camp aimed at assessing the country’s brightest young talents in December. An agile shot stopper who fills the goal at 1.93m, Martinelli has impressed with his distribution too and, after starting for Fiorentina’s under-20 side last season, now sits on the bench for the first team. Nicky Bandini

October 2024 update Continues to be involved with the first-team squad on a regular basis although is behind David de Gea and Pietro Terracciano at the moment. Made his debut for Italy’s Under-19s in August.
Simone Pafundi
“First Pafundi, then everybody else.” That was the response of Roberto Mancini when journalists asked why he had included a teenager with only three Serie A appearances – totalling 16 minutes – in his Italy squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers against England and Malta this March. A 1.77m No 10 with dazzlingly quick feet and, in the words of Udinese chief scout Andrea Carnevale, “Maradona’s left boot”, Pafundi had already made his national team debut the year before. He will get his chance to establish himself as a first-team starter at club level this season, after he recovers fully from a recent hernia. Nicky Bandini


October 2024 update Joined Lausanne-Sport on loan for the calendar year of 2024 in January and was voted the league’s best player by transfermarkt.com users in the summer despite playing for only half the season. Injury problems have thwarted him at the start of the 2024-25 campaign but he is making good progress.
Gaku Nawata
Japan is all of a sudden blessed with a number of promising attackers at this age level. Aren Inoue scored an impressive brace in a 4-0 win for Japan's under-18s against England at the recent Limoges Tournament. Yutaka Michiwaki has the stature for men’s football and was rewarded with a professional contract at age 16 (unusually early by Japan’s standards) by Roasso Kumamoto, where he has been getting regular minutes in the J2 League this year. But it was Michiwaki’s international strike partner Nawata who most illuminated the Under-17 Asian Cup this year, scoring five goals to finish as top scorer and player of the tournament as Japan took home the trophy. Two minutes and 30 seconds into Japan’s first group game against Uzbekistan, Nawata collected the ball on halfway and promptly hit a powerful, looping shot that thumped off the crossbar. This offered an immediate impression of the then 16-year-old’s technique, all-round eye for opportunity, and perhaps most importantly the development in his confidence after a promising but inconsistent first year at the renowned Kamimura Gakuen High School. Asked by Nikkan Sports about his World Cup dreams, Nawata replied “I’m not just satisfied with the under-17s; my real aim is to go with the full national team.” Ben Mabley
Watch Gaku Nawata in action

October 2024 update Scored Japan’s equaliser in what was ultimately a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the last 16 of the Under-17 World Cup in November 2023. This year, he has shown himself to be a prolific scorer at Under-18 domestic level. At the time of writing, he is second in the scoring charts for the Prince Takamado Under-18 Premier League – a mixture of high school teams and J.League clubs’ Under-18 sides. Nawata’s nine goals – four more than anyone else at the tournament – helped Kamimura Gakuen to their first ever Inter High School final in August.
Divine Teah
Teah is breaking almost every record in his country’s books. In September 2021, he made history when he received a call-up to join the Liberian national team at a mere 15 years and five months of age. He became Liberia’s youngest goalscorer against Burundi on 29 March 2022, when he was only 15 years and 347 days old, confirming his knack of netting important goals. In total, the dynamic left-footed midfielder, who plays in central midfield or on the wing, has graced the pitch five times for the Lone Stars, and scored a second goal last month against Ghana in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match. Despite having to wait until 18 years of age before he can legally transfer to a European club, reports have suggested that he has already signed a pre-contract with Hammarby in Sweden. Maher Mezahi


October 2024 update As anticipated, Teah signed with Hammarby on his 18th birthday and has spent the past year representing his national team while making occasional appearances for the Stockholm-based club. Several Premier League clubs are monitoring his progress.
Gael Álvarez
Álvarez often played wide in the youth teams at Pachuca, the club where Hirving Lozano and Héctor Herrera started their careers, but impressed in a more central role as the best player at February's Concacaf Under-17 Championship. This summer he trained with Feyenoord, though Pachuca insisted they had no plans to sell. The offers will keep coming in as Álvarez continues to showcase what he can do. As a winger he gets to the byline easily and crosses well, and in the centre he relies on his dribbling skills and strong shot from distance. Jon Arnold

October 2024 update “I saw it and it’s something that obviously helps me grow,” the Mexican creative midfielder responded when asked by Fifa about his inclusion on the 2023 Next Generation list ahead of the U-17s World Cup held late last year in Indonesia. “But I can’t get cocky or ahead of myself. It’s a step forward and a reminder that I’m on the right path.” Álvarez would go on to start three out of Mexico’s four games at the youth tournament, before making his professional debut this summer for Pachuca, against Monterrey. Since then the first-team minutes have flowed, partly thanks to a Liga MX rule that seeks to encourage clubs to field more U-23 players. Was recently called up to the Mexico U-20 squad.
Fidel Barajas
The second division of the United States may not be where Mexico fans expect their next star to come from, but such is the nature of today’s global game. Barajas is in the hunt to lead the USL Championship in assists, and with his superb vision and wicked left foot it is easy to see why. He needs to become more aggressive and show his best more consistently, but that likely will come with time – and after a move to Europe. Born in California and also eligible for the United States, Barajas helped Mexico past the US in the final of February’s Concacaf Under-17 Championship and will be key for El Tri in Indonesia at the Under-17 World Cup next month. Jon Arnold

October 2024 update “I’d never heard of that (Next Generation) list,” Barajas admitted to the Mexican newspaper CBS Sports Golazo last year. “But I immediately looked it up and it was amazing.” The midfielder finished last year as the USL Championship Young Player of the Year, before taking the step up by joining Real Salt Lake at the start of 2024. At the MLS club he immediately became a first-team regular, featuring in 17 out of 20 league games between February and June. But when Chivas de Guadalajara made a $4m offer for the midfielder in the summer, it didn’t take the Sacramento-born midfielder long to make his mind up. “I’m very excited to get started at Chivas,” Barajas gushed upon arriving at the Mexican giants in July. “Being from Mexico, I’ve grown up dreaming of playing for such an incredible club.” Despite having represented the US at youth level earlier in his career, his international future also appears to lie across the border in the country where his parents were born; late last year he played at the Under-17s World Cup for El Tri and has since been promoted to the Under-20s.
Vasilije Adzic
Since his senior debut last November, the elegant midfielder, who confesses to being “a huge Barcelona fan”, has already amassed 31 appearances, scoring six times and getting four assists, at the time of writing. Now he’s a starter for his club and is already being called up for the Under-21 national team. “He is the best thing that happened to Montenegrin football since Stevan Jovetic,” says Andrija Delibasic, a former international who is now the director of football for the national champions, Buducnost Podgorica. “We have had offers for him from France, Germany and Italy.” Having been compared to Kevin De Bruyne in his homeland, Adzic is unpredictable, highly creative and capable of scoring spectacular goals. But in order to make it at the highest level, he will first need to find a "transitional" league to play in, somewhere where he can improve on his defensive contribution and try to bridge the gap to the elite in a smooth manner. Aleksandar Holiga

October 2024 update A really good season with Buducnost earned him a move to Juventus for the all-time highest transfer fee from the Montenegrin League, reportedly worth €2m with large bonuses. Juve were impressed enough to keep him with the senior squad rather than sending to their Primavera or loaning him out, despite a hamstring injury early in the season. Could get a chance soon, after he recovers. Also already on the radar for the senior national team.
Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal
The Académie Mohamed VI garnered significant attention during the 2022 World Cup when Morocco stunned the world by becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals. This historic Moroccan team included three graduates from the state-of-the-art academy in Salé: Nayef Aguerd, a centre-back for West Ham; Azzedine Ounahi, a midfielder for Marseille; and Youssef En-Nesyri, a striker for Sevilla. Aït Boudlal is poised to be the academy’s next rising star. Standing at a towering 1.90m, the imposing centre-back stands out not only for his formidable presence in aerial duels but also for his adeptness at intercepting dangerous passes and initiating accurate build-up play from the back. Aït Boudlal recently captained the Morocco Under-17s team at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and scored two goals in the tournament, attracting interest from several top-tier French clubs. He is expected to lead the Atlas Cubs at the Under-17 World Cup this year. Maher Mezahi


October 2024 update Led Morocco to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Under-17 World Cup and signed with the French club Rennes during the summer, although he is yet to make his first-team debut at the time of writing.
Jorrel Hato
Ajax are going through a tough time at the moment but there is one young player from Rotterdam who is spreading some joy. Hato is already a regular in the first team, which has taken many by surprise considering the competition for the position at left-back or centre left-back, including players such as Daley Blind and Owen Wijndal Hato. The 17-year-old is physically strong, fast and possesses superb build-up qualities. Last season he got up extremely early to travel to Amsterdam to train every day from his home near the Feyenoord stadium De Kuip. But Hato is not one to complain. “A fantastic boy,” Blind has said. Bart Vlietstra

October 2024 update

October 2024 update Made his debut for the Netherlands in November 2023 - a month after we published our list – and has gone from strength to strength with Ajax. Signed a contract extension to 2028 in March, saying: “It makes me happy and I am proud of myself but it feels like other people are proud of me too.”
Tygo Land
Finally we have another great talent from the north of the Netherlands, following in the footsteps of Arjen Robben. “Tygo is a unique player,” says the PSV first-team coach, Peter Bosz, when referring to the youngster’s link play between defence and attack. “He has a lot of potential. He trains with us and does that very well. This boy has a very bright future ahead of him if he continues to work hard.” Land first moved to Heerenveen before continuing south to Eindhoven, where he is living on his own. The precocious midfielder has already made his debut for the first team and there have been comparisons to Frenkie de Jong and Andrea Pirlo among others. “He already speaks like a [football] professor,” according to one youth team coach at PSV. Bart Vlietstra

October 2024 update Continues to pick up first-team minutes here and there and signed a contract extension until 2029 in July. “Tygo continues to develop incredibly well,” said the PSV director of football affairs, Earnest Stewart. “He combines his game insight with strong ball control. That makes him a player with a lot of potential.”
Emmanuel Michael
It is rare to see full-backs be so influential that almost all build-up play goes through them, but that’s how good Emmanuel Michael has been for the Nigerian youth national teams. At just 17 years old, he not only executes his defensive responsibilities with aplomb, but any set-piece within a 30 metre vicinity of the opposing goal will have him chomping at the bit to fire in a deadly free-kick. Beside the set-pieces, Michael’s most devastating asset lies in his ability to loft precision crosses to his strikers from the flanks, crafting ideal opportunities for attacks in close proximity to the goal. Maher Mezahi

October 2024 update In August, Michael signed for LASK in the Austrian Bundesliga, but he has only featured for the reserves so far.
Sverre Nypan
It has been a desperately tough season for Rosenborg with the record Norwegian champions stuck in the bottom half of the table, but it has at least allowed Nypan to shine with his superb performances in midfield. He has been a ray of light in the darkness and it now feels as if he is one of the team’s leaders at the tender age of 16. In November 2022, Nypan became the youngest player in the club's history, a month before his 16th birthday and when he found the net at Bodø/Glimt in May he became their youngest scorer. In his second game in the Europa Conference League qualifiers, he provided two sublime assists in the win against Hearts. Blessed with superb ability to read the game and vision, Nypan has been compared to Martin Ødegaard and Frenkie de Jong, and his rise has even taken his father by surprise. Both Manchester United and Manchester City are reportedly monitoring the young midfielder but the Red Devils should have an edge in that particular battle with Nypan being a self-confessed fan of the Old Trafford side. Michael Yokhin
Watch Sverre Nypan in action

October 2024 update "There is nothing more pathetic than being a 'good' loser," Nypan said in November of last year. This year has been a little bit mixed with illness and injuries but both Nypan and Rosenborg's form were on the way up in the early autumn.
Valentino Delgado
The 1.75m midfielder was born in Lima and has always stood out for his intelligence with and without the ball. He is also a good dribbler and can play in several different positions, including right wing, right wing-back and right full-back. He was set to lead the Peru team at the home Under-17 World Cup but the country lost the tournament because of “infrastructure issues”. Made his debut in the Peruvian top flight in February 2023, a 4-0 defeat against Universitario. Now a regular in the first-team squad and one wonders what his next step will be. Jaime F Macias

October 2024 update Hasn’t yet found his next step. Remains at the Peruvian second division side AD Cantolao and has struggled for minutes, starting only seven games in 2024 (at the time of writing in October). The 18 year old also looks likely to miss out on a place in José Guillermo del Solar’s Peru U-20 squad that are preparing for the South American qualifiers held on home soil at the start of 2025.
Karol Borys
Polish journalists and fans are very excited about their 2006 generation, which, according to some, is the most talented crop of players since those born in 1988 – and that list included Robert Lewandoowski, Kamil Glik and Kamil Grosicki among others. It took time for those players to flourish, whereas the current youngsters are making big strides already, having reached the European Under-17 Championship semi-finals in June. Borys, who scored three goals at the tournament, is the undisputed leader. He made his Ekstraklasa debut for Slask in May 2022 as a 15-year-old, and stands out thanks to his vision, dribbling skills and ability to find spaces with and without the ball. Manchester United invited him for a trial two years ago, but he has to become stronger physically in order to play regularly in the top division. When that happens, the sky should be the limit for him. Michael Yokhin

October 2024 update Signed by Westerlo for €2m in the January transfer window he is spending this season on loan at Maribor in the Slovenian top flight, where he is picking up regular minutes. Has also made his debut for the Poland Under-21s.
Martim Fernandes
A right-back for the future: combative and attacking, tough and daring. A Porto player since 2017, Fernandes went from the under-15s straight to the under-19s before becoming the youngest Portuguese player to play in the Youth League, at 15 years and seven months. Less than a year later he made his debut for the reserves, in the Portuguese II League. His potential has not gone unnoticed at international level and last summer he was called up for both the Under-17 and the Under-19 European Championships. Nuno Travassos

October 2024 update Made his first-team debut just a few days after the Next Gen 2023 list was published. Sergio Conceição gave him plentiful opportunities and Fernandes responded with mature performances. Under the new coach, Vítor Bruno, Conceição’s former assistant, he has been first choice.
Gonçalo Ribeiro
Porto are set to receive a substantial transfer fee when their current first-team goalkeeper, Diogo Costa, decides to leave. He is one of the best in Europe. But the club continue to produce quality goalkeepers. A Dragon since 2013, Gonçalo Ribeiro looks like a worthy heir to not only Costa but also Vítor Baía, who is now on the club’s board. At 16 years and six months old, Ribeiro became the youngest goalkeeper in the history of the Portuguese II League, and a few months later he was named as Porto’s Young Player of the Year. Last summer he was in Portugal’s goal for both the Under-17 and Under-19 European Championships, and in the latter he was picked for the tournament’s best XI. Nuno Travassos

October 2024 update Still working to become first-choice Porto B keeper. Played eight times for the team last season with a further three appearances in the Uefa Youth League. In January, upon turning 18, he signed a new deal until 2028 with a release clause of €30m.
Enes Sali
Born in Toronto, Sali comes from a Romanian-Canadian family of Turkish descent. Educated in Gheorghe Hagi's academy, Enes also spent time at, among others, Barcelona, impressing with his fantastic ball control and technical skills. However, Fifa regulations prevented the Catalan side from signing him and Sali moved to Romania with his father, convinced by Hagi's vision for the boy's future. It has paid off, with Sali making his debut for Romania in November 2021 at the age of just 15 years, eight months and 22 days old, surpassing Martin Ødegaard to become the youngest European to ever play for a national team at senior level. Often compared to Lionel Messi because of his style, Sali is also the youngest ever goalscorer in the Romanian league. Barcelona and other European giants keep sending scouts regularly to monitor his progress. Emanuel Rosu

October 2024 update Was signed by the MLS side FC Dallas at the beginning of 2024 and to adapt to the league's requirements, he was sent out to compete in the MLS Next Pro for North Texas FC.
Matija Popovic
Unusually tall (1.93m and still growing) for his position – or, rather, unusually technically gifted for his height – the German-born youngster is not quite like any player you’ve ever seen. Some say he might be best described as the “Serbian Michu”; others see him as more of an Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic combo, which only tells you how rare his type is. Very versatile and adept in any attacking role, although still perhaps best suited to playing behind the striker, Popovic has dominated and scored many goals in youth leagues. He is rather fast for his size, but his main strengths are technical: his ball skills, particularly his dribbling and first touch, are exceptional. Popovic was supposed to be in the Partizan senior squad this season, but contract negotiations between his family and the club failed amid interest from major European clubs. Rumoured to be joining Borussia Dortmund in January. Aleksandar Holiga

October 2024 update After refusing to sign a contract with Partizan he moved to Monza on a free transfer in January, but six months later he was at Napoli and has since played for their Primavera side. Has not yet made a senior appearance for any club in his career.
Sallieu Bah
Mohamed Kallon, Sierra Leone’s most famous footballer, captured the nation's attention when he made his international debut at a mere 15 years of age. And although he plays in a completely different position, Sallieu Bah is now being compared to the former Inter striker after winning his first cap with the Leone Stars in September 2023. Bah impressed in the domestic league, producing six man-of-the-match performances last season, before being awarded a trial in Germany with a lower-league club. The midfielder, known for his silky left foot and knack for being able to break through defensive lines with precise passes, has a distinctive playing style that's impossible to overlook. Bah's unique fashion sense has also caught the eye. Under the guidance of John Keister, a proponent of youth development, Bah is expected to become a regular fixture in the national team, and there are reports suggesting he's close to signing a pre-contract with a Romanian club.Maher Mezahi

October 2024 update Has been downgraded back to the Sierra Leone Under-20s for now, after securing senior call-ups with the national team last year.
Luka Topalovic
Signed a professional contract five days after his 15th birthday; got his senior debut last year aged 16 years and three months, and now already a regular for his club with two goals and one assist to his name in 10 appearances (at the time of writing). Topalovic is a highly skilled, very creative and intelligent playmaker; a natural talent who is very comfortable with the ball at his feet and has a killer shot. He dreams of playing in the Premier League one day, but says that for now he ”just wants to progress and learn as much as I can every year. Discipline and hard work, that makes the difference between success and failure”. Unlikely to stay put for much longer; a lot will depend on the choice of his next destination. Aleksandar Holiga

October 2024 update Signed by Inter this summer after a good season with Domzale and Slovenia Under-19s, he is now with their Primavera side. The future is far from certain, but he is happy to work hard for it.
Kim Myung-jun
The striker captained South Korea to the final of the Asia Under-17 Championship, where he impressed with his maturity in more ways than one. Agile, full of movement with an eye for a pass as well as a shot, he is also a captain who leads by example and earns respect from teammates. He has pledged to work hard in becoming stronger and quicker, and if this happens Kim has a bright future. Others have said he has a playing style not a million miles from Harry Kane and Kim himself admits that the English striker is his role model and that he regularly studies the play of the Bayern Munich striker. John Duerden

October 2024 update The forward signed a contract with Pohang in January while still at school. “As someone who came from the youth team, joining Pohang is a dream and an honour. I am grateful for the opportunity,” he said. In the first team squad but yet to make his debut for the three-time Asian champions at the time of writing.
Marc Guiu
Put together a prototype of the players who come through La Masia and the result won’t be Marc Guiu, which is a good thing. A 6ft 1in striker who joined the club at seven, he made his debut for the first team in the end-of-season friendly against Vissel Kobe in June, coming on for Robert Lewandowski, and almost scoring with a header. Has begun this season with the Under-19s, for whom he has scored five times, including against Porto in the Uefa Youth League, and for Barcelona B in Spain’s third tier. Was included in the squad for the first team’s visit to Granada this week, although he did not get off the bench. Scored four times at the Under-17 Euros in the summer, including two against Italy, making him joint top scorer with Lamine Yamal as Spain reached the semi-finals. “He’s a specialist in the area, not the typical Barcelona player,” his former coach at La Masia Ivan Carrasco told Sport. “He doesn’t stand out for his combination play but in the area he has brutal heading ability and he has a power and speed on the run that make him very dangerous when there is space. He has fighting spirit, he never gives a ball up for lost and when it comes to pressing he is an animal.” Carrasco called him a 10/10 as a person; he is proving to be quite the player too, a proper No 9 breaking the Barcelona mould. Sid Lowe

October 2024 update Marca called Guiu “Barça’s unexpected hero” when the young striker, aged 17 at the time, came off the bench against Athletic Bilbao to net the winner – just 33 seconds into his professional debut – late last year to seal a 1-0 win. But he would only go on to play a further 62 minutes of league football in Barça colours before rejecting a new contract at the Nou Camp and joining Chelsea for a bargain €6m this summer. From hero to zero in the eys of Barça fans, but for the young striker he immediately turned his thoughts to London. “It’s an immense joy to play for Chelsea,” Guiu enthused. “I struggled to sleep ahead of the journey here because I was so excited.” Having made his Blues debut against Manchester City in August, he went on to miss an open goal against Servette in the Conference League qualifiers. “He likes to score the difficult ones,” the Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, joked after the game. “But it’s normal, he’s still young.”
Jon Martín
Shanti Martín made his debut for Real Sociedad, under John Toshack back in 1987, aged 17. Now his son Jon, who joined the club at 12, looks to be on course to do the same. He played four of Real Sociedad’s five pre-season games, against Osasuna, Sporting, Bayer Leverkusen and Atlético Madrid, and has continued to work with the first team while playing as a starter with the B team and appearing for the juvenil (Under-19s) in the Youth League. “I want him to stay and train with us because I see lots of potential and he gives me good vibrations,” Real Sociedad's coach, Imanol Alguacil, said in August. Real Sociedad are a club that have made a virtue of progressing youth-team players, opening pathways to the senior side, and there is confidence in him from the sporting director and academy director as well as the first-team coach, with Martín included in the Uefa B list to enable him to be called up for European competition. A leader and captain of Spain’s Under-17s, a tall right-sided central defender, he brings the ball out well, is focused, serious, and strong in the challenge. Stands out for his ability in the air – in both areas. Scored the winner against Barcelona B in Spain’s third tier and got two thumping headers against Inter in the Youth League, including a last-minute winner. Sid Lowe

October 2024 update Continued the Sociedad pathway right up to the first team after making his professional debut in a 2-0 away win over Betis in May this year, replacing the former Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney in the 67th minute. In September he was named in a back three for Sociedad’s Europa League game against Nice for his European debut. “This game and this point are for my family, my friends and for everyone who has accompanied me. I’ll always remember this day,” the 18-year-old centre back said after the 1-1 draw on the French Riviera. “I’m very happy to have played my first game in Europe and for having been in the starting XI.” Was recently called up to Paco Gallardo’s Under-19 Spain squad.
Jorge Rajado
Jorge Rajado joined Atlético Madrid at alevin (under-11) level and signed his first professional contract in May 2022, having made an immediate impact when he progressed to the juvenil (ages 16-19), becoming the teams’s top scorer despite playing off the left wing. Direct, with good acceleration and deceleration, swift from a standing start, he carries the ball well, keeping it close to him, is good one-on-one and has quick feet. He often comes into the inside channel to run beyond the defence, can play on the left of a midfield three, and has also been employed as a second striker, but his greatest strength is coming in from the left wing to shoot towards the far post with his right foot from outside the area. Physically he has grown and he has improved defensively too, particularly when it comes to applying a high press. Does a lot of work off the ball. Has become a key figure for Atlético and for Spain’s Under-17s and has trained with the first team under Diego Simeone. Sid Lowe

October 2024 update A key member of Atlético’s Juvenil A (Under-19s) team, he signed a new contract to keep him at the Madrid club earlier this year. “I’m fortunate. This club has given me opportunities and has helped me be a better player and person,” he said after extending his deal until 2028. “I’m very thankful to be able to continue with this great club.” Was restricted to just 14 appearances last season for Atlético’s U-19s, but still managed to chip in with eight goals as the Colchoneros were crowned Spanish youth champions.
Lucas Bergvall
Bergvall was only 16 when he helped Brommapojkarna get promoted to the Swedish top flight in 2022. Before that he had been captain of the club’s various youth teams that had won cups all over Europe. After his exploits in Superettan with BP, Sweden’s top sides wanted to sign him and he opted to stay in Stockholm with his favourite club, Djurgården. He joined together with his younger brother, Theo. Now 17, Bergvall has impressed during his first season in the top flight, and has made 20 appearances at the time of writing, scoring the winner against Halmstad on 30 September. Plays up for the national team, with the under-18s and was recently called up to the under-21 squad. It seems just a matter of time before he moves abroad. Olof Lundh

October 2024 update

October 2024 update An incredible 12 months, during which he was on the verge of joining Barcelona but chose Tottenham instead. Played the first half of the season at Djurgården before joining Spurs and impressing Ange Postecoglou to such a degree that he was not sent on loan but became a first-team member, acting as James Maddison’s understudy. Also made the Sweden senior squad for September’s Nations League games.
Emre Gökay
Gökay is a tricky left-footed winger with an impressive dribbling ability who has already established himself as a fan favorite at Sivasspor. He is the type of player fans love to see: not scared to take on opposition defenders and to showcase his flamboyant skills. Gökay made waves at youth level when he guided Sivasspor to the under-17 national title and was voted player of the tournament. He ended up breaking into the first team at the end of last season and appears to be part of his manager Servet Cetin’s plans for this campaign. Can play on either wing but has been predominantly used on the right this season. The rising star has already attracted interest from the major Süper Lig clubs. The 17-year-old is not first choice for Sivasspor yet but expect that to change as he continues his development. Emre Sarigul

October 2024 update Has been hovering between the first team and the youth side. Gökay played 11 times in the Super Lig last season and will be hoping to establish himself as a regular for Sivasspor this campaign. The Central Anatolian-based side have garnered a reputation for developing talent recently and the teenager has the potential to shine this season.
Yunus Emre Konak
Hailing from the city of Batman, Sivasspor may have found themselves their very own superhero. Was part of the Sivasspor Under-17s that were crowned champions, together with fellow Next Generation pick Emre Gökay, and since then both players have been promoted to the first team. Konak has already managed to establish himself as first-choice defensive midfielder, a rather impressive feat in such a demanding position at his age. The 17-year-old has an impressive passing range, is hard-working and already physically strong. He has been praised for staying grounded and humble despite his rapid rise. Hopes to play in western Europe one day and if he continues on his current trajectory that day won’t be very far away. Emre Sarigul

October 2024 update Was snapped up by Brentford after excelling as a defensive midfielder at Sivasspor. However, the 2023-24 season was cruelly cut short because of injury. The 18-year-old has now recovered and will be hoping to prove himself in the Premier League.
Yasin Özcan
It would be unfair to call Özcan a potential talent as he is already playing first-team football in the Turkish top tier. In fact, he already had half a season as first-choice defender under his belt when he started the first game of the 2023-24 campaign for Kasimpasa. Burst on to the scene in January 2023 and it was not long until he became the youngest player to score in the league, aged just 16. Started off as a left winger before being converted to a centre-back due to his size and pace, although the youngster believes his best position is left-back. Wearing the No 58 as an ode to the area code of his family’s region, Sivas, he cites Sergio Ramos as his idol. Özcan is already playing for the Turkish Under-21 national team and considering the lack of left-backs at the moment he could end up getting fast-tracked to the senior side. He would have generated a lot more media attention had he been at one of Kasimpasa’s noisier Istanbul neighbours, but that is bound to change, with clubs from within and outside Turkey following his progress. Emre Sarigul

October 2024 update Despite being just 18, Özcan is a seasoned Super Lig player entering his third season as a first-team centre-back. The versatile defender, who can also play as a left-back, was a first-choice player last term making 37 appearances in the league. He has kept his place in the side and is being closely watched by several clubs who have been impressed with his development.
Diego Kochen
The US has never lacked for goalkeeping talent and Kochen could be the latest American to star in Europe. He is currently part of the youth team at Barcelona but has also trained with the B team. Coaches at Barça have praised his reflexes and aerial ability as well as his aptitude with the ball at his feet. Also eligible to play for Peru, through his mother, and Venezuela, through his father. Tom Lutz

October 2024 update Signed a new long-term contract with Barcelona that included a guarantee that he would be promoted from the under-19 team to the reserve side, Barça Atlétic. But with Marc-André ter Stegen’s injury problems, Kochen trained and travelled with the first-team squad last season. He was consistently named to the bench under Xavi Hernández and has been named in the matchday squad under Hansi Flick.
Cruz Medina
Medina is a product of the Earthquakes' academy system and signed professional terms when he was 15, making him the 15th youngest player in MLS history. The Californian is skilful, creative and can play as a No 10 or on the wing. Has also impressed for USA Under-17s, and wisely doesn’t get carried away with praise or criticism. “After every game I call my brother and talk to him about how I did, and he is pretty much the only person who I’ll ask how I did,” he told the Earthquakes website. “Social media is a whole different thing and I try not to look into that too much.” Tom Lutz
Watch Cruz Medina in action

October 2024 update San Jose sent Medina out on loan to The Town FC in MLS Next Pro, the United States’ equivalent to a reserve league. He’s picked up minutes but goal involvements have been hard to come by.
Ihojan Pérez
An attacking midfielder who can play across all forward positions, he is more than happy to get stuck in and is adept in pressing the opposition into mistakes. Born in Montevideo, he has developed throughout the age groups and has those most important commodities in modern football: speed and an eye for goal. He is also brave and has an impressive range of passing. He made his first-team debut for River Plate this year, a 2-1 defeat against Cerro Largo, and has remained part of the senior squad, getting so many minutes that he did not play for the Under-17 national team in the South American championship. Jaime F Macias

October 2024 update Took a nasty bash to the head while playing for River Plate Under-19s in May, but insisted on staying on the field. “After five minutes he started to stagger around and so he was subbed off and an ambulance was called,” the River president, Fabián Motta, revealed after the game with Nacional was suspended. “He was in an excited state and somewhat aggressive.” Sedated and rushed into intensive care, Pérez underwent rigorous tests for five days, but a week later was given the all-clear. Currently still with River’s youth team, who play in the Uruguayan fourth division.
David Martínez
Martínez has made his senior debut for Venezuela and was the leader in the Under-17 side that qualified for their first World Cup for a decade thanks to their performances at the Conmebol championship. The 1.78m winger is the best player of his generation and represented the Under-20s before making his full debut against Guatemala under Fernando Batista in June. He has always been known for his finishing but his leadership, personality and intelligence make him the complete package. “He has always stood out, he has always scored many goals, they have always talked about him,” says Esteban Martínez, his brother and teammate at Monagas. “And I think that means that nothing fazes him, not even playing in the Copa Libertadores at such a young age.” His Monages debut came in the Copa Libertadores and it did not matter that they lost 3-0 against the Chilean side Everton because it was the start of what promises to be a very successful senior career. Jaime F Macias

October 2024 update Missed out on playing at this summer’s Copa América with Venezuela due to a niggling stress fracture in his lower back that had been aggravating the winger for some time, but he has since bounced back to form with MLS high-flyers Los Angeles FC and is now firmly in the first team at the club he joined in February. “You can tell already at his age that he has something special,” the veteran LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead observed. “He has something with vision, the way he sees the game, something about his understanding of football that’s different.” Martínez admitted he had struggled to balance settling in a new country but, after his two goals in September that helped guarantee a playoff place for Steve Cherundolo’s side, the teenager looks to have found his feet.
Le Dinh Long Vu
Vietnam are blessed with many technical, fast players who are equally comfortable on either foot but Le Dinh already has fans excited about how far he can go. He impressed so much at Asia’s Under-17 Championship that he was called up to the country’s under-23 team. His pace, slight build, dribbling and ability to whip balls into the area has led some fans to compare him to Phil Foden. Young Vietnamese talents don’t always progress as much as they should but with the right coaching and club, Le Dinh could go very far indeed. John Duerden
Watch Le Dinh Long Vu in action

October 2024 update Made 12 league appearances last season for Song Lam Nghe An, his debut coming back in March with one newspaper saying that he had shown "quite good form". With Vietnamese football not in a great place at the moment, FA officials believe a full call-up is not far away if the winger can continue getting minutes this season and start scoring a few goals.
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