Who could be the next Kobbie Mainoo for your club? We identify one young player from each Premier League team who has the potential to make a significant impact in the top flight this season.
There’s nothing more thrilling for a football fan than witnessing a young player break into their club’s first team. It’s even better when they stay and build a career at their childhood club.
Last season, the Premier League showcased several youngsters securing first-team spots, particularly at clubs near the top of the table. From soon-to-be England regular Kobbie Mainoo to the numerous talented teenagers given opportunities at Liverpool, there were many inspiring stories of young players breaking through.
So, who might be next in line for a Premier League breakthrough? Here, we highlight one potential star from each top-flight club for the upcoming season.
A quick note: the criteria for being a ‘potential breakout star’ varies across clubs. While some clubs are known for nurturing youth talent, others may not see academy products breaking through as often—Brentford, for example, doesn’t have an academy. Regardless of the criteria, we’re looking for young players who could make an impact on their first team this season.
When will English Premier League 24-25 begin?
17 August, 2024
Top Emerging Talents to Keep An Eye Out from Each Premier League Team in the 2024-25 Season
Arsenal – Ethan Nwaneri
As Arsenal aims for another season competing for the Premier League title, opportunities for the club’s emerging talents may remain scarce. In the 2023-24 season, Mikel Arteta granted game time to only two players younger than 22-year-old Bukayo Saka, with Ethan Nwaneri and Charles Sagoe Jr. each making just one appearance.
Nwaneri, an academy product, has long been a source of excitement for Arsenal fans. In September 2022, a 15-year-old Nwaneri became the youngest player in Premier League history. Since then, he has played only 13 more minutes of first-team football, featuring in a 6-0 victory over West Ham in February this year. The list of the youngest Premier League players ever includes many cautionary tales, which Arteta must consider as he oversees Nwaneri’s development.
After ranking third in Premier League 2 last season for goals scored (11) and averaging 0.97 goal contributions per 90 minutes, the now 17-year-old Nwaneri will be hoping for more first-team opportunities this season.
Aston Villa – Kosta Nedeljkovic
Aston Villa’s youngsters face a tough challenge in breaking into the first team, as the squad is well-stocked across the pitch following a busy summer transfer window. However, there is a small chance that Unai Emery might see room for improvement at right-back—where Matty Cash and center-back Ezri Konsa shared duties last season. In this position, 18-year-old Kosta Nedeljkovic is a promising prospect.
Signed from Red Star Belgrade last January and immediately loaned back to the Serbian side, Nedeljkovic is an attack-minded, athletic, and physically imposing full-back.
Despite being almost 18 months shy of his 20th birthday, Nedeljkovic has UEFA Champions League experience, having made four appearances in the group stage in 2023-24. Notably, he played 78 minutes in a 3-2 defeat to Manchester City last December, facing off against Jack Grealish and later Phil Foden, and was dribbled past only once.
Nedeljkovic’s attacking prowess stands out, with his rate of 4.5 shots, dribbles, and chances created per 90 minutes ranking fourth among all defenders in the Champions League in 2023-24 (minimum 200 minutes played), behind Joao Cancelo (5.9), Ulisses Garcia (4.8), and Achraf Hakimi (4.8).
Bournemouth – Dominic Sadi
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has shown a willingness to give young players game time if he sees potential in them, offering hope to the club’s youngsters about their future on the south coast.
Last season, four players under the age of 21 played Premier League minutes for Bournemouth: Milos Kerkez (1,975), Alex Scott (1,011), Illia Zabarnyi (270), and Dominic Sadi (1). Sadi, in particular, could be the next player to make a significant push for first-team action from their development squad.
Sadi made his Premier League debut in April against Brighton at just 20 years and 239 days old. His professional debut came earlier in the season in the EFL Cup against Norwich City, where he assisted a dramatic late goal with a superb cross to Brooklyn Genesini, sending the match to penalties. Sadi also made the Bournemouth substitutes bench five times last season.
Although he wasn’t included in Bournemouth’s squad for their pre-season tour of the United States, Sadi has been scoring goals for their development squad in pre-season, just as he did consistently in 2023-24. This includes scoring both goals in their 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest B on July 22.
Brentford – Yehor Yarmoliuk
Brentford doesn’t have an academy, opting instead to acquire players aged 17-21 for their B team, with the goal of gradually integrating them into the first-team squad. This approach has yielded many success stories in recent years, and 20-year-old Yehor Yarmoliuk appears to be the next promising talent.
Signed from Dnipro in 2022, where he became the second-youngest player ever to start a game in the Ukrainian Premier League, Yarmoliuk spent a year in Brentford’s B team before breaking into the senior squad last season.
He made six Premier League starts, mostly due to injuries to teammates, and saw more action from the bench. This season, with Thomas Frank likely considering refreshing his central midfield trio of Vitaly Janelt, Christian Nørgaard, and Mathias Jensen, Yarmoliuk will be hoping for more game time.
Yarmoliuk is a versatile midfielder, adept in various positions and effective both in and out of possession. Last season, he averaged 6.7 possession recoveries and 2.3 successful dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League. Expect to see more of him in 2024-25.
Brighton – Valentín Barco
With new Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler only 31 himself, it seems likely he will be open to giving young players opportunities on the pitch. Brighton is known for discovering exciting and talented players, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Valentín Barco receive more first-team chances.
Barco, who turned 20 this week, joined Brighton from Boca Juniors in January and made three Premier League starts as well as his international debut for Argentina in the latter half of last season. While at Boca Juniors, he played as a left-back, left wing-back, and left midfielder, but most of his appearances for Brighton have been at full-back. He may have a chance to challenge Pervis Estupiñán for a starting spot next season.
Barco is very comfortable on the ball, enjoys advancing forward, and delivers precise crosses. His 308 minutes of Premier League action came against strong opponents like Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth. This suggests he is trusted to handle high-pressure situations, as he averaged 1.2 chances created and 16.1 passes into the final third per 90 minutes.
Chelsea – Josh Acheampong
In a squad brimming with highly expensive and talented players, Chelsea’s youngsters face a challenge in breaking into the first team unless a significant injury crisis occurs similar to last season’s.
That crisis did, however, create opportunities for some players, including Josh Acheampong, who made his way into the senior squad and could see more chances this season.
Acheampong has been included in Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the USA and is viewed as a more fitting player for Maresca’s style than the excluded Trevoh Chalobah, who is believed to be available for transfer.
Versatile in defense, Acheampong can play as a right-back, right wing-back, or right-sided centre-back. He is a solid defender in one-on-one situations, comfortable on the ball, and a threat in the opponent’s box. Last season, in nearly 15 hours of U18 Premier League football, he was dribbled past only seven times, averaged 6.9 successful carries of at least 5 meters per 90 minutes, and contributed two goals and three assists.
Although opportunities at Chelsea may be limited due to the competition, Acheampong is highly regarded at the club and could have a promising future there.
Crystal Palace – Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
With Michael Olise’s move to Bayern Munich, Crystal Palace has an opening on the wing. While it’s likely that Oliver Glasner will look to the transfer market to address this significant gap, there’s a possibility that he might also give one of the club’s most exciting young talents a chance to step up.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi made six substitute appearances at the beginning of last season under Roy Hodgson, following a successful loan spell at Charlton in 2022-23, where he scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in League One. Although Rak-Sakyi and the club hoped he would build on that success in 2023-24, limited game time has led to speculation that he might seek first-team opportunities elsewhere.
Due to frequent first-team training, Rak-Sakyi saw limited action in Premier League 2 last season but was highly effective when he did play, registering five goal involvements in just 229 minutes—averaging two goal involvements per 90 minutes. Having clearly outgrown that level, he is eager for a chance in the top flight this season. Whether that opportunity will come at Palace or elsewhere remains to be seen, but he is definitely one to watch.
Everton – Tim Iroegbunam
Two and a half years have passed since Tim Iroegbunam made his Premier League debut for Aston Villa. After spending the 2022-23 season on loan at QPR, where he played a full campaign of Championship football, he found it challenging to secure a regular spot back at Villa last season. Although he did see significant action in the latter stages of the Europa Conference League and the Premier League, Unai Emery ultimately felt he couldn’t guarantee the midfielder consistent game time with Champions League commitments on the horizon.
This summer, Iroegbunam made a £9 million move to Everton, where he will be hoping for more opportunities in central midfield. Known for his ball-playing ability and preference for short, simple passes, he operates as a metronome at the base of midfield. Last season at Villa, Iroegbunam completed 104 of 118 passes across all competitions, and in Premier League matches, he misplaced only four of his 55 attempted passes. He is also effective at breaking up play, averaging 7.5 regains and 2.8 tackles per 90 minutes in 2023-24.
With increased game time at Goodison Park, Iroegbunam has the attributes to succeed at the top level in modern football.
Fulham – Jay Stansfield
Jay Stansfield’s journey has been one of steady progress. He netted six goals in 11 appearances for Fulham in the U18 Premier League during the 2020-21 season and followed up with six goals in 14 games for the U21s in Premier League 2 the next season.
After some brief appearances for the first team, Stansfield went on loan to Exeter City in 2022-23, where his late father, Adam, was a beloved figure. At Exeter, he scored nine goals in 36 League One matches before moving to Birmingham City on loan last season.
Although Birmingham was relegated from the Championship, Stansfield excelled, scoring 12 goals in 43 league appearances. There are reports that the club, partly owned by NFL legend Tom Brady, is interested in making his move permanent. However, Fulham manager Marco Silva might consider giving the 21-year-old a chance this season. Fulham has Rodrigo Muniz, Raúl Jiménez, and Carlos Vinícius as striker options, but none reached double figures for goals in the Premier League last season.
Silva is not known for frequently turning to young players; Fulham handed just 74 Premier League minutes to players aged 21 and under last season, the fewest in England’s top flight.
Ipswich Town – Liam Delap
He might be tired of people referencing his father’s renowned throw-ins, but now Liam Delap has the opportunity to showcase his own abilities in the Premier League.
Delap, the son of former Stoke City throw-in specialist Rory Delap, joined Ipswich this summer in a reported £20 million transfer from Manchester City, despite limited appearances for Pep Guardiola’s team. Instead, he has developed his skills in the Championship through loan spells with Stoke, Preston, and Hull City.
At City, Delap demonstrated his potential by scoring 24 goals in 20 Premier League 2 matches during the 2020-21 season and adding eight more in 10 games the following year. However, his performances in the Championship were less prolific, with just three goals for Stoke and one for Preston. Nevertheless, his eight goals in 31 appearances for Hull impressed Ipswich enough to invest in him.
Under Kieran McKenna, known for his success in nurturing players, Delap could be poised to reach new heights.
Leicester City – Abdul Fatawu
Leicester fans might question why we’ve highlighted a player already part of their squad. However, Fatawu is still looking to establish himself at the top level, having only turned 20 in March.
The Ghanaian international was linked with a move to Liverpool before joining Sporting CP in 2022, but he made just 10 appearances for their first team in the 2022-23 season, with only one start.
Last season, Fatawu was on loan at Leicester and impressed in the Championship, scoring six goals and providing 13 assists in 40 appearances (33 starts). He created 32 big chances, surpassing any other player in England’s second tier by at least 10, and completed 90 of 181 dribble attempts.
Now that Fatawu’s move to Leicester is permanent, it will be intriguing to see if he can make a significant impact in the Premier League next season.
Liverpool – Jayden Danns
Another second-generation talent, Jayden Danns—son of former Crystal Palace and Bolton Wanderers midfielder Neil Danns—rapidly progressed through Liverpool’s youth ranks last season. He made his U21 debut in September 2023 and then marked his first senior appearance with a substitute role in the 4-1 victory over Luton Town in February.
Just days later, Danns featured again as a substitute, playing 33 minutes including extra time in the 1-0 EFL Cup final win against Chelsea. He also scored his first two goals for Jürgen Klopp’s team in a substitute role during the 3-0 FA Cup fourth round win over Southampton. Overall, Danns made five substitute appearances last season and netted three goals in seven Premier League 2 matches for the U21s, alongside nine goals in nine U18 Premier League games.
His ascent is particularly noteworthy given he missed eight months of football at age 15 due to Osgood-Schlatter’s disease, a condition related to his growth spurt.
Although he will miss Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the USA due to a back issue, if Darwin Núñez faces challenges in front of goal, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Arne Slot offer Danns opportunities next season. Given his impressive performances last year, he could seize those chances effectively.
Manchester City – James McAtee
Like Liam Delap, James McAtee developed his skills at Manchester City but needed loan spells to gain first-team experience. His impressive 18 goals in 23 Premier League 2 matches during the 2021-22 season caught the attention of Sheffield United, leading to two seasons at Bramall Lane.
In the 2022-23 Championship season, McAtee scored nine goals in 37 appearances (21 starts) for Sheffield United, and only Iliman Ndiaye (51) and Sander Berge (39) created more chances from open play than his 33 for Paul Heckingbottom’s side.
Although McAtee’s productivity dipped in the Premier League last season, he still managed three goals and three assists in 30 games (20 starts). Among his teammates, only Gustavo Hamer (54) created more chances from open play than McAtee’s 25.
Pep Guardiola has recently indicated that McAtee will have opportunities at City next season, stating: “We have a high opinion of him. I would love to have him next season with us – he can play in the small spaces in the pockets. I think he grew up in terms of physicality and has played for a team fighting relegation and when you do this you get something special.”
Manchester United – Toby Collyer
Given the recent rise of Kobbie Mainoo, there’s genuine excitement whenever Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag highlights a young player.
This week, Erik ten Hag remarked on Toby Collyer’s progress, noting, ‘He’s now earned an opportunity.’ After a solid performance in a pre-season friendly against Rangers, Ten Hag said, ‘Today he was in the starting XI, that’s something, and we see how we can progress. We saw last year with Garnacho and Mainoo what can happen, so the pathway is also open for other players and Toby is there.’
Collyer is anticipated to play a role in the first team this season rather than going out on loan, leading fans to imagine a future midfield partnership with Mainoo.
A number eight with excellent vision, Collyer consistently seeks to get on the ball, whether retrieving it from the defense or operating in the half-spaces on either side of the pitch. His extensive coverage of the field, as shown by his heatmap from Premier League 2 last season, highlights his work rate. Although he has yet to make a senior competitive debut, the history of young talents succeeding at Old Trafford suggests that his chance could come soon.
Newcastle United – Joe White
Joe White has patiently awaited his opportunity in Newcastle’s first team, and he finally made his league debut in February 2024 with a substitute appearance against Bournemouth. He added three more appearances by the end of the 2023-24 season, though at 21 years and 139 days old on his debut, he was not the youngest among the squad.
White had successful loan spells in the EFL with Hartlepool and Exeter during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. In the first half of last season, he was loaned to League Two side Crewe, where he made a notable impact. From his debut on September 2nd to his final appearance on January 13th, White was Crewe’s leading chance creator in league play (28) and contributed to five goals (3 goals, 2 assists) in 20 matches.
His first-team introduction at Newcastle may have been prompted by a midfield injury crisis, but Eddie Howe’s decision to keep him with the senior squad rather than send him back to Crewe suggests that he is being considered for more significant roles. Having been involved in pre-season training, White could be a player to watch in the 2024-25 season.
Nottingham Forest – Eric Moreira
Nottingham Forest signed 18-year-old Eric Moreira from German club FC St. Pauli in June, and he could make an appearance in the first team during the 2024-25 season.
Moreira was a key player in the impressive German U17 teams that won both the European Championship and the World Cup in 2023, featuring in six of Germany’s seven matches in each tournament.
Over these competitions, he contributed three assists, ranking just behind Noah Darvich (8) in terms of assists, with nearly half of his 19 chances created coming from set-piece situations (9).
Should he make a Premier League appearance before his 19th birthday on May 3, 2025, he would become just the fourth player to feature in the competition for Forest at 18 or younger, joining the ranks of Rodrigo Ribeiro, Marlon Harewood, and Chris Doig.
Southampton – Sam Amo-Ameyaw
Southampton’s youngest-ever Premier League player, Sam Amo-Ameyaw, will be eager for more first-team opportunities in the 2024-25 season following the club’s promotion back to the top flight.
In May 2023, Amo-Ameyaw made history as the first 16-year-old to play for Southampton in the Premier League (at 16 years and 314 days old), surpassing Luke Shaw’s 11-year-old record as the club’s youngest Premier League player.
During the Championship season, he appeared in just three games, accumulating 74 minutes in August, shortly after signing his first professional contract. He did not feature again in league matches after that initial month.
Amo-Ameyaw played a key role in Southampton’s under-21 team in Premier League 2 last season, contributing to 12 goals (6 goals and 6 assists) in 12 games, more than any other teammate.
Tottenham – Mikey Moore
It’s been a while since Tottenham’s academy has produced a standout player who truly makes an impact at the club, but Mikey Moore may be the most exciting prospect to emerge from N17 in years.
A technical and versatile attacking midfielder, Moore is known for his ability to influence the game in the final third. At just 16, he has already demonstrated his knack for making decisive contributions.
Moore made his Tottenham debut as a substitute against Manchester City towards the end of last season and impressed during the Under-17 European Championship with England this summer. Despite England’s early exit in the quarter-finals, Moore finished second in the tournament for goal involvements, with four goals and one assist in four matches.
His goals were particularly noteworthy, coming from shots with a combined xG of just 1.2. Spurs fans will be optimistic that Moore’s exceptional talent will lead to a breakthrough and a return to enjoying another homegrown star in the first team.
West Ham – George Earthy
Nineteen-year-old George Earthy is eager for more first-team chances under West Ham’s new manager, Julen Lopetegui, following the signing of his first professional contract and his debut in the 2023-24 season.
Earthy made an immediate impact by scoring with his first touch in West Ham’s match against Luton at the London Stadium on May 11, finding the net just 67 seconds after coming on as a substitute. This goal made him the first teenager to score in the Premier League for West Ham since Declan Rice’s goal against Arsenal in January 2019 and the youngest since Junior Stanislas’s goal against Middlesbrough in May 2009.
His debut performance earned him the ‘Young Hammer of the Year’ award, capping a strong season with the U21 side where he contributed 19 goals (10 goals and 9 assists) in 21 appearances, helping the Hammers secure a second-place finish in the Premier League 2 regular season.
Wolves – Leon Chiwome
Leon Chiwome is eager to build on his surprising debut in the 2023-24 season as he looks to make a bigger impact in 2024-25. The 18-year-old forward was recognized as Wolves’ top young talent by The Guardian in September 2022, but is only now beginning to edge closer to regular senior squad involvement.
Chiwome’s Premier League debut came in March against Aston Villa, marking his entry at 18 years and 80 days old. This made him the third-youngest player to represent Wolves in the Premier League, following Fábio Silva in 2020 and Anthony Forde in 2011.
Although Gary O’Neil included Chiwome in the winter training camp in Abu Dhabi, the return of first-team players from injury means Chiwome is currently focusing on U21 football during pre-season. He will be aiming to catch the eye and secure another opportunity in the first team.
