Who are Europe’s best young footballers in 2025?
The football world has been an ever-flowing factory of talent, but European football is arguably at its apex at the moment. They already have fantastic talents like Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland to spearhead the charge. Time has moved fast given that those big names are relative veterans now.
After their generation, there is a new set of players who could be considered world-class sooner or later. Let us have a look at some of the best young footballers who are poised to take over the sport.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona and Spain)
The most obvious choice for this list is Lamine Yamal, who has been a superstar ever since he debuted for Barcelona in 2023 when he was only 15 years old. At 17, he has already amassed plenty of accomplishments that other players don’t do in their entire careers.
Yamal was a crucial cog in Spain’s victory in the 2024 European Championships, arguably being the tournament’s best player. He is an outstanding footballer in the right wing, creating plenty of goal-scoring chances for his teammates with his pinpoint crosses.
He already has a signature move with his Trivela cross, which disconcerts his opponents as he is catching them off guard with a strong-footed cross. The right-wing position already has plenty of top stars like Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka.
Yamal is still scratching the surface of his potential, which could propel him to be the best player in the world when he matures further. He is already performing well at the moment, so improving and reaching his ceiling is still a long way away. This can be scary to think about for any player, especially for those who came from La Masia.
Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal and England)
Arsenal’s Hale End Academy has produced some good talents over the past few years. Bukayo Saka is the most successful Academy player in recent history, but recent years have shown the Gunners are prepared to take over with their Academy.
Ethan Nwaneri is the brightest talent from Hale End who plays for the first team. He is unbelievably talented as he has everything you would want from an attacker. Ethan’s shot power is superb, as he can get off a goal-scoring attempt from a long distance. He can also create chances with his crosses like Saka and Martin Ødegaard.
Nwaneri has a unique profile, as he can play all over the forward line on either wing and as a false nine due to his finishing ability. At the same time, he could serve as an attacking midfielder, given he has the creativity to pull that off due to his experience at Hale End and the tutelage he has received.
His best friend and fellow Hale End graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly also deserves some recognition, considering he has also broken into the Arsenal rotation. Hale End and Arsenal are becoming titans in the English game again, showing they want to keep competing at the highest level.
Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona and Spain)
While Yamal tends to get the plaudits as a La Masia product, Pau Cubarsí is probably the best defender prospect in the world. At only 17, he has become a young sensation at centre-back for Barça.
He is a physical defender, but he also shines as one of the most skilled defenders in Europe with his passing and dribbling. Former Barça manager and legend Xavi gave him the best praise possible when he commended his maturity as a footballer.
Xavi said, ‘The best way to sum it up is that when Cubarsí has the ball, my heart rate doesn’t rise. A 17-year-old kid has it and I’m relaxed. That’s priceless’.
When you get that kind of defender, it is hard not to call him one of the most promising. If he is doing that as a teenager, he probably has even more potential to be a difference-maker.
Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain and France)
At only 19, Doué already has a sterling reputation in Ligue 1. He earned his way to a spot with Paris Saint-Germain when he starred for Rennes. He is a versatile player, who can emerge as a winger and an attacking midfielder.
Doué is an ambitious attacker as he loves dribbling circles around his defender. While Mbappé left PSG in 2024, his exit has not been felt since they have invested well in future stars like Doué. He is always a difference-maker during matches as he is a natural attacker who knows how to unlock the defence.
Doué has done a stellar job at setting himself apart with such a loaded roster like PSG with their attackers. He might have some world-class players ahead of him at times, but Doué will always find ways to contribute to PSG.
Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth and Spain)
One of the best-performing defenders of the 2024-25 season is Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen. He was playing for Juventus in the 2023-24 season, but they surprisingly sold him to the Premier League side. It is probably one of the most regretful decisions Juve has made recently as the Spanish teenager is one of the best defenders in England.
He does not look flustered whenever teams are pressuring him. Huijsen is also a forward-thinking player, as he loves to advance the ball quickly by either dribbling or making pinpoint through-ball passes. That is a rare trait from centre-backs, but it is often found in some of the best defenders in Europe.
Europe will continue to produce top-tier talent
With Europe producing world-class players seemingly every year, you can expect that to continue happening. Of course, the football world is bigger than just Europe as South America, Africa, and Asia have become hubs of world-class talents.
