The best young English players

Few nations are more passionate about hyping up their young talents than England.

All it usually takes is a few high-profile matches at one of the Premier League’s top clubs to earn the wonderkid tag. Having said that, England do boast some genuinely astonishing youngsters at present.

Many are already household names plying their trade for ‘big six’ sides, while others are thriving under a dimmer spotlight on the continent. Not all of them will make it to the top table, of course, but many have the potential to reach the upper echelons of the game.

The term ‘young player’ has quite a loose definition in modern football, so to makes things easier we are only considering players aged 22 or under at the time of writing.

Here are the 25 best youngsters England have to offer right now.

Having been understandably overshadowed by his older brother’s astounding rise to the top, it’s easy to forget that Jobe Bellingham is a mightily impressive talent in his own right. While his surname now carries new expectations, he is enjoying a steadier ascent to the top table.

Having thrived in the Championship, the lanky youngster is already attracting interest from top division sides.

What more is there to say about Jude Bellingham? Not only is he England’s greatest talent, he’s also one of the most influential players on the planet right now.

His move to Borussia Dortmund raised eyebrows for such a hefty fee at such a young age, but he blossomed in the Bundesliga before making his move to Real Madrid. That lucrative switch to Spain has paid dividends for the midfielder, as well as Los Blancos.

It’s frightening to consider how much he could achieve.

Jarrad Branthwaite has somewhat gone under the radar as one of Europe’s most promising centre-halves, perhaps because he’s been duking out at Everton rather than a member of the ‘big six’. The unflappable defender seems to have the world at his feet, however.

A formative loan at PSV Eindhoven has helped the starlet blossom so swiftly, with the Toffees reaping the rewards upon his return to Merseyside.

A left-footed centre-back – which is always desirable – with an excellent blend of ferocity and composure, the sky is the limit for Branthwaite.

England have a lot to thank Borussia Dortmund for when it comes to player development. They nurtured the likes of Jadon Sancho and Bellingham, and they have been quietly doing the same with young forward Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.

The speedy winger has already donned a black and yellow jersey consistently over recent seasons, even making a cameo appearance in the 2023/24 Champions League final.

Carney Chukwuemeka didn’t arrive at Chelsea in the easiest circumstances, teaming up with a disjointed squad and a club quick to sack coaches. However, the attacking midfielder still managed to make a positive first impression.

Injuries have somewhat stunted his development to date, but the fleet-footed youngster has wonderful technical ability and natural flair.

One Cobham graduate that Chelsea are desperate to keep around, Levi Colwill first caught the eye during his loan spell at Brighton. Followed up by glory at the under-21 European Championships with England, the centre-back became an important member of the Blues’ backline.

What would be described as a ‘Rolls Royce defender’ in modern football, Colwill has all the attributes required to be an elite defender, with a great turn of speed and exquisite passing range.

Harvey Elliott was fortunate enough to be mentored by Jurgen Klopp for many years and the German’s influence on the midfielder-cum-winger is obvious. Intensity and tenacity are perhaps Elliott’s greatest strengths.

However, the Liverpool star also has a magical left foot and is capable of putting the ball on a sixpence. He already boasts a staggering amount of experience at one of Europe’s elite clubs at such a tender age.

Having broken on to the scene during the 2023/24 campaign, Archie Gray swiftly established himself as a starter for Leeds United, either at right-back or in midfield. His excellence and versatility won him the Young Championship Player of the Year award during his breakout campaign.

It surely won’t be long until he’s gracing the Premier League.

Having made a handful of appearances for Chelsea following his promotion to the senior squad, Lewis Hall spent the 2023/24 season with Newcastle. At the end of his loan spell, a lucrative move to St James’ Park was confirmed.

The attack-minded defender has shown glimpses of his potential so far while bombing up and down the flank, with Hall one of the few gifted left-backs England has produced in recent years.

Having been sent on loan to several clubs while on the books at Manchester City, Taylor Harwood-Bellis is now a Southampton player permanently after securing promotion to the Premier League with the club at the end of the 2023/24 season.

The young centre-back impressed during his initial loan spell with the Saints and now has the chance to establish himself in the top flight.

Another former Chelsea youngster that left west London, Samuel Iling-Junior made a brave move abroad after signing for Juventus. He thrived in Turin and racked up plenty of experience, catching the eye with his devastating performances on the left wing.

Iling-Junior is not a household name yet but may well be soon, with a number of England under-21 caps to his name already.

Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, Rico Lewis has already proven himself to be a star in the making. Offering the demanding Spanish coach incredible tactical flexibility by featuring as an inverted full-back, the Manchester City man has been offered a priceless tuition by one of the game’s greatest thinkers.

He already has an impressive trophy cabinet that contains the Premier League and Champions League, and he is set to become an even more important member of a swashbuckling City team in years to come.

Guess who Tino Livramento used to play for? That’s right, Chelsea.

The right-back was used to raise funds for Chelsea’s first team after a big-money move to Southampton in 2021. His first season on the south coast was eye-catching, but a long-term injury the following campaign stifled his development.

However, now at Newcastle, the marauding defender is once again flying up the flank in the Premier League.

Noni Madueke was another young English dynamo that benefitted from playing on the continent, with the speedy winger being picked up by PSV Eindhoven. After some splendid seasons in the Eredivisie, Madueke returned to British soil.

Joining Chelsea, Madueke took time to settle into his new and ever-changing surroundings. However, he is beginning to find his feet at Stamford Bridge, particularly excelling in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

Having already scored in the FA Cup final for Manchester United and earned a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad, Kobbie Mainoo is no longer a fledgling. Every time he steps foot on the pitch, he has shown remarkable maturity, composure and technique for such a young midfielder.

There is no doubting Mainoo’s ability or potential. Let’s just hope that United can get the best out of the remarkable wonderkid.

Chucked into the deep end by Eddie Howe, Lewis Miley faced Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain in five of his first seven appearances for Newcastle United.

However, he didn’t look remotely out of place for even a moment, seamlessly slotting in to a midfield trio. Miley’s composure was frightening, his passing excellent and his maturity impressive.

Off the back of several cameos in a Liverpool shirt, Tyler Morton was shipped off on loan to Blackburn Rovers. Impressing in Lancashire, he enjoyed another priceless loan spell up north with Hull City during the 2023/24 season.

The young midfielder has earned himself a number of caps for England’s under-21 team already and could be a useful asset for many teams in years to come.

The signing of the 2023/24 Premier League season, Cole Palmer enjoyed an astonishing debut campaign at Stamford Bridge. He won the top flight’s Young Player of the Year award having built on the foundations laid at Manchester City.

A place in the Euro 2024 squad followed, with Palmer now one of England’s best attacking players. Playing off the right flank or as an attacking midfielder, he is a relentless provider of goals and assists.

Jaden Philogene’s ascent into the public eye hasn’t been quite as swift as some of England’s other young talents, but the Hull City winger enjoyed a truly sensational debut season in Yorkshire following his move from Aston Villa in the summer of 2023.

The England under-21 international has become renowned for his speed and trickery following his breakout season in the Championship in 2023/24.

Labelled ‘Virgil 2.0’ by former Liverpool boss Klopp, Jarell Quansah’s rise to the top was as sudden as it was impressive.

Having been on loan at League One Bristol Rovers during the 2022/23 campaign, few people could have predicted just how quickly the Warrington-born youngster would adapt to life at the elite level.

Quick, calm and built like a tank, Quansah has been handed plenty of first team opportunities for the Reds, even helping the club lift the Carabao Cup in 2023/24.

After spending nine years at West Bromwich Albion’s academy, Morgan Rogers was picked up by English football dominators Manchester City after playing against them in the FA Youth Cup semi-final.

Loan spells at Lincoln City, Bournemouth and Blackpool gave a small glimpse into what the 6’2 forward can do, and in July 2023 he opted to pursue the route of regular first team football by joining Middlesbrough on a permanent basis.

Seven months and five Carabao Cup goals later, Rogers had booked his ticket back to the Premier League with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in a deal potentially worth £15m – his early impressions in the Midlands almost earning him a shock call-up to England’s Euro 2024 squad.

Arsenal’s star boy, Bukayo Saka already finds himself among the world’s greatest attacking players after several seasons of brilliance in north London. He has proven indispensable to a reinvigorated Arsenal team.

Saka’s willingness to run at opposition defenders and his sharpness on the ball set him apart from his peers, with few forwards as devastating in and around the penalty area.

After a big-money move to Bournemouth from Bristol City, Alex Scott took some time adapting to life in the Premier League. However, towards the end of the 2023/24 campaign, he began to shine.

A calm presence in the engine room, Scott dazzled in the Championship due to his wonderful array of passing and is starting to show Bournemouth fans exactly why they parted with £25m for his services.

Despite being unable to save Burnley from relegation during the 2023/24 Premier League season, James Trafford certainly didn’t harm his reputation after some impressive performances for the Clarets.

Undoubtedly England’s sharpest young goalkeeper, he certainly fine-tuned his shot-stopping during a difficult campaign at Turf Moor.

Adam Wharton’s rise has been astounding, with the midfielder only trading Blackburn Rovers for Crystal Palace in January 2024. However, he immediately dazzled in the capital, thriving under Oliver Glasner.

Remarkably mature and sensible on the ball, Wharton has quickly made Premier League supporters sit up and take notice, even being selected in England’s Euro 2024 squad.

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