There have never been as many good young players in the world as there are now, so we have limited this list to those aged 21 and under at the time of writing. And, though both are extremely good, neither Max Dowman nor Rio Ngumoha has played enough to be considered this season – though it seems unlikely either will be missing from the selection a year hence.
Nico O’Reilly, 21 (Manchester City)
It isn’t unusual for young midfielders to establish themselves in a team by playing at full-back – we saw it with Paul Ince and Roy Keane when they moved to Manchester United and last season with Myles Lewis-Skelly, whose performances for Arsenal were so accomplished he had bestowed upon him the incomparable honour of a spot on this list. But none of the aforementioned trio altered our perception of what is possible when playing the position in the way that Nico O’Reilly has. Defensively good enough, compensating for nous he is yet to acquire with bristling bravery and physicality, the change he pioneers comes in attack, his contribution not restricted to the usual over- and under-lapping. Rather, O’Reilly deploys his midfielder’s game and decision-making to attack the centre undetected, his knack of box-crashing facilitating the scoring of headers and tap-ins – striker’s goals, really – such that he now has nine for the season, including one in the Bernabéu, both in a crucial 2-1 win over Newcastle and a brace in the League Cup final. If we were picking one player, we’d be picking him.
Mateus Fernandes, 21 (West Ham United)
There are not many players able to come into the Premier League at so young an age and immediately look like they belong – especially not in the maelstrom of midfield – but that is exactly what Mateus Fernandes has done. An all-phases monster, his physical qualities are obvious – whether on the carry or on the turn, he is able to protect the ball, just as he is strong in the tackle and in the air. But though he has the skillset to play in front of the back four, that is not the sum of him: he has a lovely touch, a fertile imagination, and the confidence to use both, so it makes no sense to limit him to a particular area of the pitch. Rather, he is a midfielder of the old school, able to do a bit – or in his case, a lot – of everything. But perhaps most impressive of all is his mentality. He demands the ball from much older teammates, directing them about the pitch – something he also does with his passes and crosses – with the way they respond showing they trust not only his talent but also his football brain and leadership. If he stays fit and focused, he can become one of the best in the world.
Michael Kayode, 21 (Brentford)
Brentford have enjoyed a surprisingly fantastic season under Keith Andrews and Michael Kayode is a major part of the reason why. He is most famous for his throw-ins, especially effective because they are sent flat as well as far, arriving into the penalty area at speed which offers the chance of a goal from a first connection – not usually the case. But Kayode makes this selection because of his defending. He is powerful on the ball and in the tackle, able to keep up with the quickest wingers with the recovery-pace to get back at them should he, as all full-backs sometimes are, be beaten. And because he can play on both flanks, his weak foot cannot be targeted – he can cope with players going inside or outside just as, when he attacks, the defender marking him cannot predict which way he might go and, if he chooses to cross or shoot, that can come off either foot. Given how poor Italy are, it is strange that he is yet to win a first full cap – but it will not be long.
Noah Sadiki, 21 (Sunderland)
There are various reasons Sunderland have shocked everyone, recording the best season enjoyed by a promoted side since Wolves in 2018-19. Significant among them is the quality of players they’ve bought, often for bargain prices – and Sadiki, who cost just £17.5m from Union SG, is one of those – and equally so is their ability to outrun and out-tackle almost every opponent – an approach he exemplifies – and the role this endeavour plays in getting the crowd going – especially at home, where the Black Cats have only been beaten on three occasions. There is, though, more to Sadiki than simple – or not so simple – energy, effort and power. His passing, though not expansive, is effective, his first touch is reliable, he has good enough feet to beat men in tight spaces – and, eager to learn, he is only going to get better.
Lewis Hall, 21 (Newcastle United)
Yet another talent off the fabled Chelsea production line, which creates exceptional players who are then sold to other teams while they spend loads on less good ones who occupy the same position. Over the past two seasons, Hall has established himself as one of the best left-backs in the league. Though he lacks extreme pace, he is strong and technical, able to cross well, carry effectively, pass incisively, and shoot powerfully from range. Equally impressive, though, are the intangible immeasurables: confidence and diligence, bravery and indefatigability. Like all young defenders, his reading of the game will improve over time, so too his decision-making but, in the meantime, his energy allows him to compensate for these minor shortcomings. Similarly, though one goal so far this season is a poor return given his range of skills, there is no reason why that shouldn’t change, especially if he moves to a Champions League team this summer – and there will surely be offers.
Junior Kroupi, 19 (Bournemouth)
Strikers tend to mature sooner than players in other positions because their work is so natural but, even so, Junior Kroupi has enjoyed an impressive debut season in the Premier League, scoring 13 goals – all but one of them crucial to securing a point or three. To put that achievement in some perspective, only seven players have scored more and, if we only count open-play finishes, the total is down to six. But it’s the nature as well as the numbers which show us how good Kroupi has been: intuitively understanding that the net doesn’t move, he has the instinct to score poacher’s goals and can shoot quickly from anywhere, inside or outside the box, his low backlift making it difficult for keepers and defenders to adjust. And, through the course of the season, we’ve seen more of and improvements in his general play; if those continue, he can become that rarity: an all-round centre-forward of the old school, who is ideal for the modern game.
