23 Talented Under-23 Players to Monitor in 2024-25
In the second annual edition of this deep dive, we look at a group of youngsters in the soccer world to keep an eye on.
I love soccer so damn much.
But what I love most about soccer isn’t just the sheer drama attributed to the global game or the awe-inspiring talent at the top clubs worldwide. Yes, I do love those things. However, what I love most is the constant search for what’s next—the next star, the next intriguing talent, the next icon.
Last year was the first installment of what I hope will be a yearly series where we look at 23 players under the age of 23 who “are due for a jump up in competition or status over the next year.” If you’re at all interested in going back and seeing who those players were and anything relating to them, you’re more than welcome to do so.
With that said, we’re going to look at the new crop for this year. Let’s get it going.
GOALKEEPER
1.) Guillaume Restes, 19, Toulouse: Projecting out goalkeepers is pretty hard in the world of soccer (err, football), but it seems to be a pretty good bet that Guillaume Restes will at least be a worthwhile keeper for the foreseeable future. Restes was the main man in net for French side Toulouse last season, starting 34 matches and conceding 46 goals. Restes stopped 70% of on-target shots he faced as an 18-year-old for a mid-table side in a Top 5 league. That’s not nothing. Restes’ Post-Shot Expected Goals minus Goals Allowed (PSxG+/-) was only minus-0.7, a solid mark considering age and league. Restes also performed well at the Olympics, manning the posts for a French side that finished with silver.
2.) James Beadle, 20, Brighton & Hove Albion: Speaking of young goalkeepers who showed solid things last season, we have James Beadle, who spent 2023-24 on loan at Sheffield Wednesday in the English Championship. Beadle came courtesy of Brighton, but seeing as Brighton had a logjam at keeper, they opted to loan Beadle out. The 20-year-old started 19 matches for Sheffield Wednesday last season and is back on loan there this season. Beadle gave up 24 goals in 1,710 minutes last season, stopping 68% of on-target shots. Like Restes before him, Beadle performed adequately in PSxG+/-, finishing at minus-0.3 in a tough, grueling league.
LEFT FULL-BACK
3.) Patrick Dorgu, 19, Lecce: The 6-foot-2 Patrick Dorgu is an intriguing talent when looking at his size, profile, and workload that he just churned in for Lecce in Serie A last season. Dorgu started 17 matches but played in 32, tallying 1,564 minutes. The 19-year-old netted two goals, one with the left foot and a match-winner with the right. He’s physical, comfortable on the ball, willing to dive into challenges, more than equipped to go forward, and can play up the left side of the field. When looking at him, it’s not hard to see some Riccardo Calafiori. There’s an air of confidence to the lad, and it’s not crazy to think he’s another year or two from finding his way to a big club.
4.) Bradley Locko, 22, Brest: Perhaps it’s a bit of cheating to name someone on this list who was put into the Ligue 1 Team of the Year last season after he contributed nearly 3,000 minutes in aiding French side Brest to their first ever finish in the Champions League spots. Locko contributed 3 assists during his time on the pitch but excelled at carrying, duels, and everything in between that was asked of him as he wasn’t afraid to get his nose dirty defensively while supplying the offensive charge as a progressor. Not bad for a guy that Brest picked up on a permanent transfer for only €500,000 last July.
LEFT CENTER-BACK
5.) Jeanuël Belocian, 19, Bayer Leverkusen: After completing an invincible season in Germany, champions Bayer Leverkusen went out looking to shore up their defense a bit more and settled on 19-year-old center-half Jeanuël Belocian, who they nabbed from Rennes for roughly €15 million. Belocian is super talented and can play at center-back, left-back, and even some in the defensive midfield. Belocian supplies good pace, a feisty attitude in challenges, and the kind of versatility that teams at the tippy top of the food chain are looking for out of their players. Perhaps Belocian matures into a jack of all trades but master of none as a result, but the fact remains that he’s super talented and someone who could help Leverkusen after playing nearly 1,500 minutes last year for Rennes.
6.) Abakar Sylla, 21, Strasbourg: Following a successful stint in 2022-23 at Club Brugge in Belgium, Abakar Sylla got a €20 million move to Strasbourg in France where he logged nearly 1,800 minutes as a 20-year-old for a mid-table team in the top division. The 6-foot-2 native of the Ivory Coast grades out very well across the board, showing solid marks in carrying, aerial duels, passing, and defensive work. Sylla isn’t afraid to go to ground and throw his body on the line to help his team, and he’s the type of profile that teams will come calling for in the not-too-distant future.
RIGHT CENTER-BACK
7.) Cristhian Mosquera, 20, Valencia: Every defense needs someone on the back line who is just a pure duel monster, and that’s 20-year-old Cristhian Mosquera of Valencia. The rise of Mosquera is rather interesting as the 6-foot-2 center-half had logged only 357 minutes in the previous two seasons as he spent time in the youth academy. But that all changed last season when he played a staggering 3,075 minutes as a 19-year-old in La Liga. The only other player under the age of 23 to do that last season in Spain was Mika Marmol, who made last year’s list when we did this. Mosquera has a bright future ahead of him.
8.) Wouter Goes, 20, AZ Alkmaar: We might be looking at a future stud in the making if all goes well for Wouter Goes. That is, of course, if injuries don’t get hold of him first, which has happened at times for the talented Dutch center-half. Goes played 1,138 minutes for AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie last season, and Goes’ talent came through with flying colors thanks to his ability to act as a menacing ball carrier who was more than adept in challenges when required. Goes is a natural passer who is not afraid to try his luck against the best defenses by attempting to pinpoint a ball to a teammate. A team will come calling within another year or so.
RIGHT FULL-BACK
9.) Conor Bradley, 21, Liverpool: It’s hard to truly make a name for yourself when you only see 753 minutes during a league season, but what Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley showed last season has the makings to be a very special player. Bradley contributed four goal contributions—one goal, three assists—and did so in 10 starts, including one against Chelsea in a 4-1 romp for Liverpool as usual right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold was out with an injury. Bradley’s a brilliant passer and option down the right flank that will give new Liverpool manager Arne Slot another weapon to utilize. This kid is a real player to watch this coming season.
10.) Joe Scally, 21, Borussia Mönchengladbach: It’s not every day that an American racks up three straight seasons of roughly 2,000+ minutes apiece in one of the Top 5 leagues in the world, the German Bundesliga. But that’s the case with Joe Scally, who has been in Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach since 2021-22. Scally scored a goal and notched four assists last season, has been a solid defensive presence, and could get a nice little move soon should he take even more strides this upcoming season.
HOLDING MIDFIELDER
11.) Stefan Bajcetic, 19, Liverpool: If, and that is the key word with a lot of things in this entire article, Stefan Bajcetic can actually stay healthy going forward, there’s a real chance we’re talking about one of the best midfield difference makers in the entire Premier League. But injuries and ailments have been a story of Bajcetic’s time at Liverpool. Still, the talent is there. And the versatility is immense as he can play both as a center-back and in the defensive midfield. Bajcetic is aggressive, loves to tackle, and can be a nice midfield engine for a Liverpool squad that is reshaping themselves after the departure of legendary manager Jurgen Klopp.
12.) Carlos Baleba, 20, Brighton & Hove Albion: Two weeks after they sold midfielder Moises Caicedo to Chelsea for a staggering £115 million, Brighton splashed about €27 million on Carlos Baleba to pry him from Lille in France. It resulted in Baleba logging 1,325 minutes for Brighton last season and showcasing some of the talent that made Brighton salivate at the thought of bringing him over. Baleba is great in duels, good on the ball, and is a more than willing passer. The 20-year-old is still developing, but there’s a chance Brighton can reap a pretty reward with Baleba like they did with Caicedo.
13.) Adam Wharton, 20, Crystal Palace: I’m well aware that we’ve spent an entire section talking about Premier League midfielders but there’s a good reason for that: there are a lot of good ones under the age of 23. And current Crystal Palace No. 6 Adam Wharton is no exception. Wharton arrived at Crystal Palace from Blackburn in February for only £22 million, and it’s a very good bet he is not long for Palace as another English team will likely come in within the next 12 months to nab him with a sizable offer. Wharton is smart, a great dueler, a willing passer, and is a big-time engine for a Premier League club despite his youth. Oh, and he made the Euros with England. That should be mentioned.
BOX-TO-BOX MIDFIELDER
14.) Dan Neil, 23, Sunderland: There’s something to be said for the unique nature that is Dan Neil. The 23-year-old—give me some leeway including him in here as he turned 23 just 15 days ago—has spent his entire professional career with Sunderland, including starting matches for them when they were down in League One. But Neil’s stuck it out, helping Sunderland into the Championship where they now will begin their third season of play. Neil’s last three seasons have seen him log 2,725, 3,581, and 3,693 minutes respectively. The man is durable, hardworking, and a pillar in the center of the park. Neil provided four goals and five assists last season for Sunderland and could be on his way to a promotion even if Sunderland are not yet ready to take that step. It’s hard to find the sort of do-it-all midfielders like Neil happens to be, and he’s just sitting in the Championship right now.
15.) Sivert Mannsverk, 22, Ajax: It’s really interesting to look at Norway on the national stage and realize they have both Martin Ødegaard and Erling Haaland and yet haven’t sniffed any tangible success in international soccer. Well, now you can add midfielder Sivert Mannsverk to the equation as the Norwegian recently moved to Ajax in the Netherlands following a stint at famed Molde in Norway. Mannsverk is an adept facilitator with a solid defensive profile that still can improve over the next few years. Based on his natural progression in recent years, it stands to reason that Mannsverk could use Ajax as a nice springboard.
ATTACKING MIDFIELDER
16.) Oscar Gloukh, 20, RB Salzburg: It wouldn’t be a “ones to watch” sort of list without at least one player from RB Salzburg, now would it? And don’t worry, 20-year-old Oscar Gloukh isn’t even the last member of his team to make this list. But in Gloukh, you have an incredibly talented offensive weapon that had a breakout season last year with 7 goals and 11 assists in 29 matches. To make matters crazier, Gloukh already scored a hat trick in his first match of this new season on Saturday, which came after he just competed in the Olympics for Israel. Gloukh is a star in the making. He can pass, he can carry, and he can score. The sky is truly the limit for this kid.
17.) Chris Rigg, 17, Sunderland: Be honest. You didn’t expect to see two Sunderland players on this list, but lo and behold here’s the second one. And it’s a 17-year-old at that. Chris Rigg is a massively intriguing talent who decided to stick it out with Sunderland rather than head for pastures new when he could, and the youngster features a dazzling ability with the ball that can see him showcase both in the middle of the field as a creator and scorer or on the wing when needed. It should be mentioned again that Rigg just turned 17 in June, which means he played 803 minutes last season in the English Championship as a 16-year-old. Give him some time to fully grow into himself. However, he’s already good enough to make an impact in the Championship right now.
LEFT WINGER
18.) Andreas Schjelderup, 20, Benfica: The list of wonderkids who flame out is pretty high I’d imagine, and that’s what makes a player like Andreas Schjelderup so interesting to me. Schjelderup achieved great success with Danish side Nordsjælland in 2022-23 before getting a €10 million transfer to Portuguese giants Benfica. But Schjelderup struggled there, making just two appearances before going back to Nordsjælland on loan. He killed it there again, netting 9 goals and 6 assists in 1,970 minutes. Now he’s back at Benfica and we’ll see if the Norwegian can shine bright there. But the talent is there for him as he’s brilliant on the ball in one-on-one settings and can crush defenders under the weight of his individual prowess. It might be sink or swim time in Portugal for the youngster.
19.) Jonathan Rowe, 21, Norwich: Sports, like life, are an embodiment of wanting to see good things happen to good people. And Norwich’s Jonathan Rowe seems like a good dude who has overcome a lot in life, including Osgood-Schlatter disease. Good things happened to him last season on the field as he poured home 12 goals and 2 assists for a Norwich side that came agonizingly close to promotion only to lose out in a two-legged semifinal tie to Leeds. Rowe uses his incredible dribbling ability to navigate tight spaces and find himself in dangerous scoring positions. Rowe might already be on the way out at Norwich as he was left out of their Championship opener amid interest from Leeds and French outfit Marseille. Either way, keep an eye on this talent.
RIGHT WINGER
20.) David Martinez, 18, LAFC: The 18-year-old Venezuelan winger is not a household name, at least not yet. But watch him play and you can see that David Martinez is not far off from finding that spark that could set his career ablaze in a trajectory that could catapult him to stardom. Martinez joined LAFC in February and can play on the left side but is mostly seen as a left-footed right winger who acts as a natural goalscorer. The MLS is a good step up from the Venezuelan league, and it can help Martinez better himself on all fronts as he continues on his pathway to bigger things. Martinez has a goal and an assist to his name already in 148 minutes with LAFC.
21.) Ernest Nuamah, 20, Lyon: I might have to rename this entire list in the future to something like the “FC Nordsjælland List of Really Good Young Players” because Ernest Nuamah comes from that same Nordsjælland fairytale land as many before him. The Ghanian winger formerly of the famed Right to Dream Academy joined Lyon permanently this summer after a loan deal last year that saw Nuamah log 1,838 minutes for Lyon and score 3 goals while chipping in with 2 assists. Nuamah is all action, a speed demon on the wing who can change a game with his pace and skill on the ball. This is the type of player who could excel this coming season for Lyon and net them a pretty penny from a team looking for his game-breaking ability.
STRIKER
22.) Samu Omorodion, 20, Atletico Madrid: There’s so much transfer drama going on with Samu Omorodion right now that it was even hard to leave him on this list because so much is still up in the air. Omorodion had a deal in place to go to Chelsea and now that’s reportedly off and he’s back at Atletico Madrid. But push that to the side. Look at the facts. This is a 6-foot-4, physical, quick, and surgical striker who netted 9 goals total last season in La Liga as a 19-year-old. And then this summer he won a gold medal with Spain at the Olympics, including scoring a lovely header against Egypt. Despite the transfer craziness, Omorodion is a top-level talent whose profile teams fawn over.
23.) Karim Konate, 20, RB Salzburg: Players like Karim Konate are the reason I love delving deep into the vast reaches of the soccer world. And, yes, Konate is the second of the two Salzburg players that I mentioned would be on here. But hear me out. If someone told you they had a 19-year-old (at the time) 20-goal scorer who could finish with both feet while consistently navigating their way into ideal goalscoring spots thanks to their smarts, you’d be all-in. Konate did all of that in 1,845 minutes last season. The only downsides to Konate are that he’s 5-foot-10 and he relies a lot on running in behind defenses rather than using his physical tools to outmaneuver them. It might not work as often at a higher level. But the returns have been there so far, and this is the profile of a player who could consistently break defenses with his skill, guile, and craft.