Every season, a new crop of young players emerges in the Premier League, and this year is no different. From Arsenal's Marli Salmon to Tottenham's Lucá Williams-Barnett, here is one potential breakout star for each club.
Arsenal: Marli Salmon
Salmon, a defender who can play right-back or centre-back, became the fourth-youngest player to represent Arsenal last season when he came off the bench against Club Brugge in the Champions League in December at 16 years and 102 days. He made four first-team appearances and featured 14 times for the Under-21s in Premier League 2, winning an impressive 71.8% of his duels. Salmon has signed a pre-agreement to commit his future to the club when he turns 17 later this month.
Aston Villa: Brian Madjo
Villa signed Madjo from Metz in January for about £10.5m but could not register him until now. The 17-year-old centre-forward has been involved regularly in pre-season, scoring four times in friendlies. His movement and power are reminiscent of Erling Haaland.
Bournemouth: Veljko Milosavljevic
With Marcos Senesi's departure, Milosavljevic could claim a centre-back spot. The 19-year-old joined from Red Star Belgrade last summer and made seven appearances in all competitions. He made more clearances than any other Bournemouth player on his Premier League debut in September and made his full international debut for Serbia in October.
Brentford: Antoni Milambo
Milambo had a difficult introduction to English football, suffering a season-ending ACL injury in October after signing from Feyenoord for around £21m. He became Feyenoord's youngest ever player in 2021 and rose to prominence in 2024-25 as a forward-thinking midfielder. No other Eredivisie player under 21 bettered his 14 goal involvements that season.
Brighton: Zadok Yohanna
Yohanna, a 19-year-old Nigerian left-footed winger, joined from AIK for around £21.5m, a record sale for Swedish football, despite playing just 13 league games. He was attempting more dribbles per 90 than any other player in the Allsvenskan before his move, with the most take-ons driving into the box and in the box. His end product needs work, but he will get bums off seats.
Chelsea: Reggie Watson
Watson, a 16-year-old towering defensive midfielder, has impressive physical attributes and is tidy on the ball. He has been tentatively compared with Rodri. Xabi Alonso has spoken about being “really impressed” with his impact in pre-season. With uncertainty around other midfielders, Watson could get minutes this season.
Coventry City: Kai Andrews
Andrews, a 19-year-old midfielder, made 10 appearances for Coventry last season before a loan to Hibernian. He ended the campaign on a high with his first start for Wales against Romania, making nine passes in the final third, the third most of any player. He will need to decide whether to stay and fight for a place or go out on loan.
Crystal Palace: Joél Drakes-Thomas
Drakes-Thomas became Palace's youngest Premier League player last season. The wideman made his debut in the Conference League at 16 and shone against KuPS, attempting seven crosses, the most of any player. With Pierre Sage's appointment, Drakes-Thomas has the ability to be a figurehead of future success.
Everton: Tyrique George
George looked promising at Chelsea but had a settling-in period at Everton after joining on loan in February, starting just one game. With a full pre-season, the 20-year-old could burst into life. He has started three of Everton's four pre-season friendlies in the absence of Iliman Ndiaye. With Jack Grealish gone and Dwight McNeil dropping down the pecking order, George has a big opportunity.
Fulham: Farhaan Ali-Wahid
The 19-year-old left winger signed his first professional contract last summer and scored 10 goals with seven assists in PL2. Only Chelsea's Shumaira Mheuka and Liverpool's Kieran Morrison recorded more goal involvements than his 17. He was nominated for the PL2 Player of the Season award and has been picked in pre-season by new manager Álvaro Arbeloa.
Hull City: Charlie Hughes
Hughes, a 22-year-old centre-back, started 36 games in the Championship and played every minute of their successful playoff campaign. He made 1.54 blocks per 90, the most of any regular player in the Championship, and made more clearances per 90 than any teammate. Hull may struggle, but Hughes could be a diamond in the rough.
Ipswich Town: Tudor Mendel-Idowu
Mendel-Idowu, who appeared on Child Genius at eight and became a King's Scholar at Eton, recorded 15 goal involvements in 17 PL2 games last season. Only three players created more chances from open play than his 33, and just two won possession in the final third more than him.
Leeds United: Jayden Lienou
Lienou, an 18-year-old defender, started all but one of Leeds' PL2 games last season and won possession 5.4 times per 90, the second most in the side. He was the only youth-team player to feature in Leeds' first three pre-season games and was called into the senior Wales squad in June.
Liverpool: Trey Nyoni
Nyoni, a 19-year-old midfielder, has been Liverpool's standout midfielder in pre-season under new manager Andoni Iraola. In three friendlies in the US, he completed 141 of 154 passes (92%), including 44 of 54 forward passes (81%). With Curtis Jones potentially leaving, the path may open up for Nyoni.
Manchester City: Ryan McAidoo
McAidoo, an 18-year-old winger, impressed in the PL2 with 12 goal involvements for City. He scored on his first-team debut in the FA Cup and caught the eye with his one-v-one ability against Inter. Enzo Maresca called him “the type of winger I love”.
Manchester United: JJ Gabriel
Gabriel, 15, is the biggest hope in United's academy. He scored 23 goals for the Under-18s in the U18 Premier League, winning the Player of the Season award. He could become United's youngest player in the Premier League, a record currently held by Angel Gomes at 16 years, 263 days.
Newcastle United: Park Seung-soo
Park, a 19-year-old South Korean left-winger, averaged 4.7 dribble attempts per 90 in PL2 last season. With Anthony Gordon gone, chances may be available on the left flank. Park has impressed in pre-season and a step up to top-flight football might not be far down the line.
Nottingham Forest: Kalum Thompson
Thompson, a 17-year-old left winger from Northern Ireland, was the youngest player to feature for Forest Under-21s last season. He won the club's scholar of the year prize and his six goal involvements were the most of any Forest player.
Sunderland: Nilson Angulo
Angulo, 23, joined from Anderlecht in January for a reported £15m. Before his move, he'd attempted more dribbles (111) than any other player in the Belgian Pro League, and only Christos Tzolis bettered his 11 goal involvements. If he keeps progressing, Angulo will be a very useful weapon for Régis Le Bris.
Tottenham: Lucá Williams-Barnett
Williams-Barnett, a 17-year-old attacking midfielder, recorded an astounding 1.25 combined goals and assists per 90 in the PL2, ranking him fourth among all players. He also created 0.8 big chances per 90. He has featured heavily in pre-season, building great momentum.
