Here are ten young players under 23 who could make a big impact in the next season. They have the potential to become household names and make a difference in their teams' success.
Giacomo Faticanti, a 20-year-old Italian midfielder, is a defensive player with great positional awareness and calm precision. He excels at breaking up play and threading passes, and has the physicality and work rate to match.
Luka Topalovic, a 19-year-old Slovenian midfielder, has the polish of a continental prospect. He's tall, athletic, and skilled at spraying passes and dribbling into tight spaces. Having made his senior debut for Inter, he's destined for deeper integration and a more prominent role.
Nestory Irankunda, a 19-year-old winger, is a fast and direct player with tight control and a clear eye for goal. He's in the English Championship with Watford, a testing but fertile ground for his talents. If he settles quickly, a productive season is within reach, and he could become a contender for the 2026 World Cup.
Sael Kumbedi, a 20-year-old full-back from Le Havre, has emerged as one of Ligue 1's most promising full-backs. He brings defensive acumen and intensity to the right flank, generating solid numbers in tackles and pass completion.
Simone Pafundi, a 19-year-old playmaker, is a diminutive but inventive player with close control and vision. He's known for his burst of pace in the final third and has generated considerable hype, although his ceiling is still speculative.
Castello Lukeba, a 22-year-old centre-back, has slotted seamlessly into Leipzig's defence since his signing from Lyon. He shines in one-on-one duels and initiating play from deep, and appears destined to be a staple in Leipzig's defence.
Carlos Baleba, a 21-year-old midfielder, has emerged as a force in Brighton's midfield. He thrives in the chaos of the press and has the platform to tighten his numbers - tackles, progressive passes, the lot. This could see him cement himself as the linchpin of Fabian Hürzeler's team or become the next high-yield export from Brighton's talent pipeline.
Eliesse Ben Seghir, a 20-year-old winger, has risen at Monaco with nine goals and four assists across all competitions in 2024/25. He thrives in tight spaces, combining intelligent movement with a willingness to press and carry.
Harvey Elliott, a 20-year-old midfielder, remains one of Liverpool's most artful midfielders. He has a deft first touch and a strong awareness between the lines. The coming season could offer him a chance to re-establish himself as a regular at Anfield.
Alejandro Garnacho, a 20-year-old winger, remains a box of fireworks waiting to ignite. He has raw pace, confidence, and a strong output, and last season's haul of 11 goals and 10 assists in all competitions was proof of his threat.