SCOUTED50: A curated guide to the next generation

Welcome to another annual edition of SCOUTED50. If you're new here, this is our curated list of the breakout talents we're most excited to watch this season. If you're not, well...we're so grateful you came back.

As usual, we've written a separate blog post explaining our process, how the list is curated, who voted, and why your favourite player might be missing. If you can't be bothered with vital context, here are the headlines:

• The list was curated by Llew Davies and Jake Entwistle, our in-house analysts
• Players featured on previous year's lists are not eligible, and only those born during or after 2005 were considered
• The list was put to a large group of our friends, colleagues and peers, who voted for their favourites

I know nuance won't stop people screaming on the internet, but we really would prefer people read our primer if they still have questions. You can do so here:

Your guide to SCOUTED50 2025/26

Explaining our annual list - questions answered, myths busted

SCOUTEDTom Curren

As a final note: this is not meant to be prescriptive or predictive. SCOUTED50 is a curated watchlist, designed to help guide you through another season of breakout talents.

It is the culmination of hundreds of hours of scouting and data analysis by Llew and Jake, and is meant to reflect SCOUTED's vibes and taste. Anyone can slap together a list of the fifty best talents in the world; we're quite confident nobody else could curate a list quite like this.

SCOUTED50: Heatwatch

Keeping tabs on the golden boys throughout the 2025/26 season.

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Developing SCOUTED's vibes is only possible because we're real human beings doing real, independent work. We are not bankrolled by anyone and we don't use generative AI for our creative endeavours. Our words and graphics are written and designed by hand, our players watched with eyes, our datapoints sifted by the colossal power of Jake's big brain. We only survive, clinging on by the skin of our teeth, because readers support us. We need much more help to know we'll be able to keep this going another year.

Now is the perfect time to grab an annual subscription. You'll unlock SCOUTED50, an entire season of coverage from the team, and more new players than you'll know what to do with. We want SCOUTED to be your ultimate companion to 2025/26. This is the best place to start.

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Without further ado: we're very proud to present SCOUTED50 2025/26.

"The combination of data analysis, scouting analysis, plus long form writing makes SCOUTED one of the first things I read every day."

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50. Wang Yudong

0 points — 2006, LW, Zeijhang FC, China

We are very aware of our European bias: we know the leagues much better, they are more accessible to watch and follow, and the quality is much easier to judge.

But we could not ignore the fact Wang Yudong is emerging as one of the most productive players in his age group out in China.

Using Stathead to monitor the 2025 calendar year leagues, Wang had more goals and assists than any other player born in 2005 or later at the time of submitting the shortlist: he has scored 11 and laid on three more in 22 CSL games. We’re excited to learn more about Wang this season, and hopefully improve our understanding of how Chinese talents might fare in European leagues in the process.

49. Cyriaque Irié

0 points — 2005, RW, SC Freiburg, Burkina Faso

Cyriaque Irié is rising fast. He joined Dijon FCO from Real du Faso (Burkina Faso) in July 2023 before immediately impressing in Championnat National, the third tier of French football.

Irié is now at Freiburg, and the club had been tracking him since his time at Dijon. As sporting director Klemens Hartenbach explained: “He is blessed with good pace, is exciting in terms of his physical attributes and demonstrates a beneficial attitude when out of possession. He can operate on either flank but has already played as a central forward as well.”

It's this malleable versatility that makes Irié a potential breakout talent. There is a risk it does not quite happen this season, but a slow Hinrunde could set him up to explode in the Rückrunde: as Nick Woltemade proved this year, that’s all you need to secure a mega-money Premier League move.

Our niche prediction for Irié is that Bournemouth sign him as an Antoine Semenyo replacement. The Cherries will do well to keep Semenyo, a Champions League-level threat, for another season and Irié could prove to be a smart pick-up given his dual duel threat.

48. Jens Hjertø-Dahl

0 points — 2005, CM, Tromsø IL, Norway

Were you to sit down and watch every player on this list, Jens Hjertø-Dahl would perhaps be the most eye-catching of the lot. Why? Because's he's massive.

Registered as 1.94m tall, the Norwegian midfielder plays in a style that belies his gangly frame: he is remarkably agile and undeniably technical. He plays with a sharpness on that ball that enables him to needle through smaller spaces, linking and facilitating play. Once a pivot midfielder that drew inspiration from Sergio Busquets, the 19-year-old has since found his niche in more advanced areas. He likes to play in pockets and arrive into the box from deep.

Born and bred in the Arctic Circle, Hjertø-Dahl has been an Eliteserien regular for Tromsø since last season, racking up 5,000 minutes in some 80 appearances. He will be on a lot of clubs' shortlists for a transfer this winter.

47. Abdulai Juma Bah

2 points — 2006, CB, Manchester City, on loan at OGC Nice, Sierra Leone

Abdulai Juma Bah is another example of the practically limitless potential of African football. Signed straight from Sierra Leone in August 2024, he played 873 minutes for Real Valladolid in LaLiga before Manchester City signed him just five months later.

He was sent on loan to Lens for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign and will spend another season in Ligue 1, this time on the French Riviera with OGC Nice.

Almost complete dominance in the air and inside his own box will define that spell, as you might expect from a 1.95m titan plonked in the middle of a back three. He will be right at the top of rankings for clearances. But he has also shown an ability to snuff out transition fires and get across the ground at decent speed when required.

46. Rion Ichihara

2 points — 2005, CB, RB Omiya Ardija, Japan

Japan have established a strong production line of centre-backs in recent years, many of which end up in European football. The next one up is Rion Ichihara.

Similar to SCOUTED favourite Kota Takai, Ichihara has well ahead of the development curve. At 20 years old, he has played well over 70 games for Omiya Ardija in the second and third tiers of Japanese football, and has captained his country at every age group, most notably for the U-20 team. His leadership qualities standout, as does his mature athleticism which is supplemented by a duelling edge as well as eye-catching composure on the ball in build-up play.

Omiya Ardija were acquired by Red Bull last year, and that will most likely define Ichihara's next step in senior football. A move to Red Bull Salzburg, who have invested a lot of resource in the J.LEAGUEs recently, makes plenty of sense.

45. Rayan Vitor

2 points — 2006, RW, Vasco da Gama, Brazil

One of the most interesting players in this year’s SCOUTED50, Rayan Vitor has the tools to become an attacking force of nature.

He packs power into every inch of an athletic frame, but most of it is geared towards ripping speculative shots from outside of the box. Midway through the 2025 Brasileirão campaign, Rayan had attempted 31 shots from beyond the area; all-but-one were unleashed with his bazooka of a left foot. However, these efforts were worth a grand total of 0.92 xG.

It’s seems like an easy and somewhat lazy comparison to make, but Rayan plays exactly like Hulk. A coach needs to train Rayan to become a low-touch threat that raids the box from out wide or runs in behind.

All this is to say is that he is the ultimate project player European clubs will be keen to mould to their game model. You could sign him as a Power Forward and get him blasting in behind and closer to goal, or you could flip his flank to remove his tendency to cut in and smash it from 40 yards and get him crashing the box from the left instead. He has the tools to succeed - now all he needs is guidance.

44. Ronan Kpakio

3 points — 2007, RB, Cardiff City, Cymru

Cardiff City's relegation to League One could have been devastating, but it has actually been a blessing in disguise. The club pushed the reset button, hiring Brian Barry-Murphy and trusting in their own. One of many home-grown talents to benefit is 17-year-old Ronan Kpakio.

While he made a handful of appearances in the doomed 2024/25 campaign, Kpakio has started eight of nine leagues games at the lower level so far this season, contributing to the team's positive start. His involvement has garnered international recognition too. He made his senior Cymru debut against Canada in September and earned rave reviews from manager Craig Bellamy.

Kpakio is a dynamic right-back that fits into different game models: he can break beyond play, tuck inside, hold his depth, and plenty more. His leggy athleticism is a standout trait. He fits the bill as a multi-dimensional defender for the multi-dimensional modern game. There's plenty to be excited about.

43. Tylel Tati

4 points — 2008, CB, FC Nantes, France

For the second consecutive edition, a large, left-footed Nantes centre-back makes the list. SCOUTED50 2024/25 alumnus Nathan Zézé became the club’s record sale when he joined Saudi Pro League side Neom SC in a deal that could be worth €23m this summer. Unsurprisingly, Les Canaris have spawned another academy graduate to replace him: his name is Tylel Tati.

Although slightly taller than Zézé, the 1.92m Tati seems to index even more into the ground-duelling that characterised his predecessor’s game and is keen to engage and dispossess opponents in wide areas. He is a proactive ball-winner and adventurous ball-carrier. Coaches like Mikel Arteta would probably look to use him at left-back.

Tati was thrown straight into the deep end against the all-conquering PSG for the opening game of the 2025/26 Ligue 1 season. The boy can swim. The fact his hybrid profile is so sought-after by elite teams to provide squad depth without bloating the roster means Zézé’s record as Nantes’ most expensive export may not last long.

42. Pietro Comuzzo

4 points — 2005, CB, ACF Fiorentina, Italy

Italian defenders are making a comeback but Pietro Comuzzo’s short flame-red hair cuts a different figure. He established himself as a key player for I Viola last season and subsequently turned down a life-changing move to Saudi Arabia to stay in Serie A after a €35 million offer from Al Hilal was accepted by Fiorentina.

Comuzzo is a brick wall centre-back. He's proactive and aggressive in duels in the air and on the ground, but he also enjoys a long-range pass and is not afraid to test the limits of his distribution.

Another strong season in Serie A and he should be part of Italy’s squad for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

41. Said El Mala

5 points — 2006, LW, 1. FC Köln, Germany

If you love powerful, bulldozing ball-carriers, you will love Said El Mala.

We loved watching him play at the UEFA U-19 EURO this summer and included him in our Team of the Tournament. El Mala scored four goals to earn a share of the Golden Boot and also provided two assists. He was the outstanding winger.

It’s his relentless thrust that makes him stick out. If he receives the ball in big spaces, he will drive over large distances before breaking angles as he approaches the box. His power and directness was devastating.

El Mala made the move to 1. FC Köln this summer having broken into senior football at cross-city club Viktoria Köln in the third division. He scored his first Bundesliga goal in his second Bundesliga game before providing an assist in his third. Capable of brutal impact with brutal force, he could burst onto the scene with a bang this term.

Read more about Said El Mala:

• SCOUTED XI: Our UEFA U-19 EURO Team of the Tournament, by Llew Davies and Jake Entwistle

40. Matias Siltanen

5 points — 2007, CM, Djurgården IF, Finland

Lucas Bergvall broke through as a 15-year-old at IF Brommapojkarna, his boyhood club and one of the biggest academies in Europe. He then became a breakout performer at Stockholm giants Djurgården and left for a club-record fee. He's now a dominant force at Tottenham Hotspur, a Europa League winner, and one of Europe’s most exciting midfield talents.

Matias Siltanen is following a similar path. Djurgården reinvested the €12m from Bergvall’s sale by signing a then-17-year-old Siltanen from Finnish club KuPS, where he already had a strong senior season to his name. It may have cost them a club-record €1.2 million, but it looks like a sensational buy.

The Finn is a compact passer that enjoys getting on the ball at the base of midfield, finding forward angles to connect, progress and create. His technique is outstanding. His ball-striking is clean and consistent, without many scuffs or mishits, even on Scandinavia’s notorious artificial pitches. His timing and motion is compact, and he generates both power and accuracy while his lower centre of gravity ensures he is well-balanced and makes him difficult to press.

Siltanen is not the next Bergvall in terms of profile and skillset, but he could well follow in the Swede’s footsteps to become of of the most profitable sales in Allsvenskan history.

Read more about Matias Siltanen:

• Introducing Matias Siltanen, the midfielder walking the Bergvall path, by Llew Davies

39. Christian Mawissa

6 points — 2005, CB, AS Monaco, France

The hybrid full-back-cum-centre-back profile is a favourite for a selection of managers at the highest level. In Christian Mawissa, AS Monaco have a player adept in both roles.

Mawissa was developed at the famous Toulouse academy that continues to produce high-potential defenders. Monaco signed him for 16M€ at the start of last season and he made 28 appearances across Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League.

Perhaps due to his relative lack of height, he is a 1v1 specialist. But that tag does not just apply to his ability to stop wingers - he is keen to take opponents on himself, too. His ideal position is probably on the left of a back three but he has an eye-catching skillset that should turn heads in the UCL whether as Eric Dier’s partner or at full-back.

38. Elías Montiel

6 points — 2005, CM, CF Pachuca, Mexico

Elías Montiel first entered the SCOUTED zeitgeist when we discovered his outrageous ball progression metrics at the end of the 2024/25 season. This drew early comparisons to Adam Wharton, but it turns out the Mexican is not just a sprayer of passes but also a relentless off-ball runner.

Upon closer inspection, Montiel’s give-and-go trait became immediately apparent. This, combined with the incredible distance he covers, makes him a prime candidate for the Developer midfield Archetype. Although he shares the Quarter-Back characteristics that define Wharton’s game, Montiel’s perpetual motion is his calling card.

The Pachuca academy graduate is set to clock over 5,000 minutes for his boyhood club before celebrating his 20th birthday. Included in that catalogue of game time is a Bronze Ball at the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Read more about Elías Montiel:

• The most fascinating U-21 players from around the world, by Jake Entwistle

37. Bazoumana Touré

7 points — 2006, LW, TSG Hoffenheim, Côte d'Ivoire

Bazoumana Touré exploded onto the Scandinavian scene at Stockholm giants Hammarby after moving from ASEC Mimosas in the spring of 2024. That explosion saw an almost-immediate move to the Big Five Leagues with the Ivorian joining TSG Hoffenheim for a then Allsvenskan record of €14 million.

During his time in Sweden, Touré emerged as the fastest forward in Scandinavia, clocking speeds that surpassed those of Kylian Mbappé and Mohamed Salah. His explosiveness is a freakish facet of his athletic profile that makes him a ferocious flyer. Operating on his orthodox side platforms his speed and results in a constant stream of byline crosses from the left wing as he zips up and down the flank, doing so as an out-and-out winger or wing-back.

His strengths are so painfully apparent every time you watch him. Such an attention-arresting profile will turn heads—and terrorise Bundesliga defenders.

Read more about Bazoumana Touré:

• The secrets of Scandinavia, by Llew Davies

36. Vasilije Kostov

7 points — 2008, AM, FK Crvena zvezda, Serbia

Vasilije Kostov is a razor-sharp midfield technician that connects, penetrates and creates through and behind lines. And although he doesn’t turn 18 until May next year, he’s already a regular SuperLiga starter for Belgrade giants FK Crvena zvezda.

Upon his inclusion in our Team of the Tournament for the 2024 UEFA U-17 EURO, we dubbed him Serbia’s 'Mister Fix-It' because of his ability to set the technical standard for the team from whichever position he was deployed. He is superb at receiving with his back to pressure and swivelling his way out of it. He’s also a threat over large distances due to his sweet ball-striking.

A starter to begin the 2025/26 season, Kostov is set for a breakout campaign—and an important one too, as he enters the final two years of his contract. Try to catch him in the UEFA Europa League this season before he breaks into the elite leagues.

35. Joaquin Seys

8 points — 2005, LB, Club Brugge KV, Belgium

For the September international break, Joaquin Seys was the second-youngest outfield player called up to the Belgium senior squad, older than Malick Fofana by just three days.

His ability to play both full-back positions makes him a manager’s dream for squad selections. Before Club Brugge sold Maxim De Cuyper to Brighton, Seys would be the full-back to operate on his weaker side. Since De Cuyper’s depature, he has returned to his natural left flank and was destructive in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, scoring three goals and providing an assist across four matches. Recovering from injury, he came off the bench in the opening League Phase fixture against Monaco to provide an assist.

Such consistent attacking output will not go unnoticed for long and Club Brugge may find themselves selling another academy left-back for €20 million next summer.

34. Taras Mykhavko

8 points — 2005, CB, Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine

Taras Mykhavko’s aggression is an immediate standout trait. But it doesn't just apply to his clean-house approach to making clearances and contesting duels. There is real purpose to his passing and his carrying, too. As seems to be the case for all left-footers, his execution is also very clean.

Mykhavko was a stalwart for Dynamo in the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League despite the team’s six defeats from eight. He was the only teenager to make an appearance for the club during the campaign and emerged as the principle defensive force. He battled well against Victor Osimhen in the 3-3 draw against Galatasaray which ended the losing streak, before keeping a clean sheet in the final match against RFS in which he could finally flaunt his qualities on the ball.

This season, UEFA Conference League fixtures against Crystal Palace and Fiorentina should put him on the map. But he looks set to be the long-term centre-back partner for Illia Zabarnyi at international level.

33. Keita Kosugi

8 points — 2006, LB, Djurgården IF, Japan

Keita Kosugi is already garnering significant interest from Big Five League clubs.

We’ve been tracking him since the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he captained Japan. A year later, he made the unusual move to leave his boyhood club Shonan Bellmare for Europe at 18 years old, joining Stockholm giants Djurgården IF in March 2024. It was a bold decision, but he hasn't looked back since.

Kosugi is aggressive and direct when carrying the ball, making him suited to a Flyer full-back role. However, he's also effective at evading pressure which means he can survive in tighter pockets inside and affect the game in half-spaces. He has the ability to adapt to different models and approaches, providing a valuable tactical tool from left-back.

Now a locked-in starter week after week for Djurgården, he could quite easily play himself into the senior Japan squad before the 2026 World Cup. Such an accolade could be his launchpad to one of the elite leagues.

32. Conrad Harder

8 points — 2005, ST, RB Leipzig, Denmark

It was a surprise to see Sporting CP sell Conrad Harder in the same window they parted with Viktor Gyökeres for the simple reason that Harder is a left-footed regen of Arsenal's new centre-forward.

That’s why Sporting had invested upwards of €22 million in Harder, despite just 1,500 senior minutes to his name, a year ago. He barrels towards goal at serious speed and unrelenting frequency; he pounds runs in behind; he blasts shots at goal from every angle at any distance. It's all very Gyökeresy.

You can see why, then, we were baffled to learn he had been sold for €25 million after just one season. RB Leipzig, however, will be extremely pleased. Despite parting with Benjamin Šeško and Loïs Openda, they have replaced the extreme physicality and penetrating running with Harder and Rômulo Cardoso.

Although RB Leipzig appear to have moved away from the Red Bull 4-2-2-2 this season, the high-intensity running and flying transitions should remain. It’s in those scenarios that Harder’s Power Forward profile should come to the fore.

31. Eliezer Mayenda

9 points — 2005, ST, Sunderland, Spain

Sunderland signed an 18-year-old Eliezer Mayenda from Ligue 2 side Sochaux at the start of the 2023/24 season with just one senior goal to his name. Now, they're slowly developing him into a gamebreaking Power Forward fit for the Premier League.

Mayenda is an excellent ball-carrier, which is why it’s not uncommon to see him occupy wide areas, either on the teamsheet or drifting towards them in game. But Sunderland have nurtured his centre-forward instincts, making him as much as an off-ball threat as he is with it at his feet.

He combines awareness and athleticism to maximise the effectiveness of his runs, ensuring the explosiveness of his actions are matched by the intelligence of his movements. Mayenda’s goal in the play-off final against Sheffield United epitomises that combo.

Mayenda was statistically one of the most dangerous players in the 2024/25 Championship season, ranking first for the Percentage of Touches in the Attacking Penalty Area and in the top 10 for Touches per Shot or Shot Assist. He might not reach the same heights in the Premier League, but there will be enough glimpses to showcase his talent and potential.

30. Christos Mouzakitis

9 points — 2007, CM, Olympiacos, Greece

Starting games as a 17-year-old for Olympiacos (or in Greek football) isn't common. But that’s exactly what Christos Mouzakitis was doing last season. He has since cemented himself as a regular in the first-team having played a key role in the club’s historic UEFA Youth League triumph in 2023/24.

Tenacity underpins Mouzakitis’ approach to his midfield responsibilities and a combination of abrasive bite and tight technique kept him afloat after being thrown into the senior football pool. Left-footed and compactly built, he's by no means drastically undersized but is certainly not the biggest or strongest on the pitch. Even then, this smaller stature lends itself to a neat in-possession skillset punctuated by crisp passing and solid set-piece taking.

One of two Greeks in this edition of SCOUTED50, Mouzakitis has already made his senior debut and should feature at the heart of this exciting young national team for years and years to come.

29. Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh

10 points — 2006, CB, Tromsø IL, Gambia

First there was El Hadji Malick Diouf, then there was Abubacarr Sedi Kinteh.

Both are graduates of the Mawade Wade Academy in Senegal, and both arrived in Europe at Tromsø IL. Like Diouf, Kinteh has made an almost immediate impact in Norwegian football since moving to the Arctic Circle: the 18-year-old is nearing on 2,000 minutes in his first season in Scandinavia, playing the majority of his club's Eliteserien games and catching the eye for his dynamic skillset at centre-back.

Kinteh is a left-footer that excels on the ball, stepping in to find passes into higher areas while able to dominate in duels when play breaks down. His profile is one that fits at the highest level and he should make an upward move – similar to what Diouf did when he joined Sparta Praha – this winter.

28. Jesús Rodríguez

11 points — 2005, LW, Como 1907, Spain

Born and raised in the same district of Seville as Ramón Sanchez Pizjuan, Jesús Rodríguez broke into the first team of Sevilla’s fierce rivals in early 2025, stepping up from the Real Betis B team where he had been a regular contributor for a season-and-a-half.

His ascendancy at international level has been even more rapid. Despite caps at U-19 and U-21 level, he wasn't on the radar before those age groups. In the recent September international break this year, he made his senior debut under Luis de la Fuente.

There are questions marks about how his skillset truly impacts games at the highest levels, but one thing is undeniable: he's a very talented dribbler and carrier of the ball. A leggy athlete that looks to take on defenders whenever possible, he rides challenges in deeper areas before driving into space, jinks through smaller gaps, bursts out the other side, slides inside and outside to put defences on the back foot, and does it all with a shifty style that catches the eye straight away.

A €22.5 million move to Cesc Fàbregas’ Como side at the start of this season is extremely breakout-coded.

27. Givairo Read

12 points — 2006, RB, Feyenoord Rotterdam, Netherlands

There’s no record of Givairo Read being at a top academy, but he did come through the highly-respected Volendam youth system. He went on to play senior football for their B team before making a single Eredivisie appearance and moving to Feyenoord in July 2023. After spending the first season in U-19s, he stepped up to the senior squad for 2024/25, breaking into team in late October and sticking there ever since.

This summer, he was a standout for the Netherlands – alongside Kees Smit, hint hint – as they were crowned UEFA U-19 EURO champions. ‘Electric’ was a word that frequently popped up in match notes throughout the tournament, and he made our Team of the Tournament too.

That will make comparisons to Jeremie Frimpong commonplace. While Read moves like the Liverpool wing-back, he's built more like Jurriën Timber. Feyenoord boss Robin van Persie has plenty of confidence in the teenager’s ability so expect Read to be a permanent fixture in Rotterdam. Until the big bids arrive, at least.

Read more about Givairo Read:

• SCOUTED XI: Our UEFA U-19 EURO Team of the Tournament, by Llew Davies and Jake Entwistle

26. Clement Bischoff

13 points — 2005, LW, Red Bull Salzburg, Denmark

Clement Bischoff was arguably Denmark’s brightest player at the UEFA U21 EURO in the summer just gone.

His cerebral playmaking abilities, excellent ball retention and empathetic combination play stood out. The fact he wasn't only the youngest player in the Denmark squad, but had played the majority of the season at wing-back for Brøndby IF, made his game-changing displays even more impressive.

Bischoff’s vision is his greatest trait. He's able to spot and deliver ambitious passes to teammates in the most dangerous positions, and he prefers to deliver a cross after creating a yard of separation rather than directly beating an opponent. While not incredibly quick, Bischoff can be called upon as a pressure release valve when needed and is able to carry the ball over large distances. Overall, it his speed of thought and execution that elevates his solid athletic base to a higher level.

Red Bull Salzburg signed him for just €5 million on Deadline Day, a cut-price rate owing to his expiring contract at Brøndby. When, not if, they eventually sell him, it will be for at least 5x more.

Read more about Clement Bischoff:

• Superpowers, discovered: translating the eye test into data, by Jake Entwistle

25. Lucas Høgsberg

13 points — 2006, CB, RC Strasbourg, Denmark

Less than a month after Llew introduced you to the latest prospect to emerge from the ever-excellent FC Nordsjælland pipeline, Lucas Høgsberg was signed by RC Strasbourg for €15 million.

It made complete sense. Høgsberg is a mobile and versatile defender that can cover across the back line with high-level qualities on the ball. His multi-faceted skillset is dynamic and progressive in equal measure, with the credentials to play at the elite level, and will guarantee profit for BlueCo.

He's the type of defender you can hinge build-up on. He plays lots of passes, manipulates angles and punches play through lines with a zippy confidence. Such an ability to platform a team is usually reserved for midfielders. A defender that can shoulder the responsibility enables other profiles to occupy midfield slots. Big teams will adore his skillset.

Read more about Lucas Høgsberg:

• Introducing Lucas Høgsberg - a play-by-play breakdown from Llew Davies

24. Joane Gadou

18 points — 2007, CB, Red Bull Salzburg, France

Being both absolutely massive and lightning fast is not fair. Joane Gadou is 1.95m tall and, thanks to our partnership with SkillCorner, we discovered the teenager is one of the fastest centre-backs in Europe. You can see why Red Bull Salzburg invested all of €10 million to pinch him from the Paris Saint-Germain set-up before he had even celebrated his 18th birthday.

His stature and speed are arresting – it’s a shame we won’t get to see it under the UEFA Champions League lights this season – and he uses this combination to his great advantage in defensive duels and in physical contact. Clubs that like to push their right-back further forward or invert them into midfield need a player like Gadou to cover the large open spaces left behind.

Gadou is a first-team regular at 18 years old and, although the exuberance of youth seems him too eager to engage at times, he has plenty of time to master his craft. Red Bull Salzburg is a strong and proven platform upon which to do it too.

Read more about Joane Gadou:

• Bursting onto the scene: how to discover emerging talent, by Jake Entwistle

23. Lennon Miller

22 points — 2006, CM, Udinese, Scotland

Lennon Miller is very clearly ahead of the curve in his development. Since breaking into first-team football in 2023, he went on to captain Motherwell, playing 76 games for his boyhood club in total, and was voted PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year for the 2024/25 season by his peers.

At international level, he’s flown through the age groups and made his senior debut in June - which received the SCOUT Notes breakdown treatment.

Miller has most of the fundamentals of a high-level midfielder. A solid physique gives him a head start, his dynamic passing ability is arguably his standout skill, and he plays with a sense of maturity and assurance that belies his age and experience. There's a little bit of latter-day Fàbregas or Alonso to his skillset, especially in his effortlessly expansive range of passing.

Summer interest was inevitable and it culminated in a move to Udinese—and a record sale for Motherwell. He follows in a long line of Scots to move to Serie A and, while it will take some time for him to settle, he has all the qualities to make a success of it.

Read more about Lennon Miller:

• Breaking down Lennon Miller, play by play, by Llew Davies

22. Francesco Pio Esposito

23 points — 2005, ST, Internazionale, Italy

Francesco Pio Esposito is a giant striker equipped with a shotgun right foot. He was named Serie B’s Young Player of the Season during his first season on loan at Spezia before going supernova in 2024/25. He dominated in the air and inside the box, scoring 17 goals in 35 matches. His muscle-man flex celebration is a reflection of the power exhibited by his ball-striking and aerial ability.

His form at Spezia secured his spot in Inter's first-team squad upon his return, scoring his first goal at the FIFA Club World Cup. It also earned him a senior Italy call-up during the September international break.

The Azzurri have produced some brilliant strikers historically, but none of them have been prolific at international level – at least over a large period of time. The only men to score 30 goals for the senior national side also have the best goals-per-game ratio among the top 10 goalscorers. Yet the last time one of them was capped was 1974. Esposito’s inclusion at 20 years old sets him on a path to break this 30-goal barrier. He certainly has the tools to do so if he can avoid injuries that steered Gianluca Scammacca off the same course.

Francesco’s older brothers Salvatore and Sebastiano have both shown promise without making a real impact at the highest level to date. Francesco has the opportunity to burst through Espositio ceiling.

Read more about Francesco Pio Esposito:

• Scouting for under-the-radar under-23 strikers, by Jake Entwistle

21. Jon Martín

24 points — 2006, CB, Real Sociedad, Spain

We're not exaggerating when we say 19-year-old Jon Martín is one of the most aerially dominant players in Europe. It’s fact.

Since the start of the 2024/25 campaign, Martín has been winning aerial duels at greater rate than anyone else in Europe’s Big Five Leagues and he finished last season on a streak of 12 consecutive aerial duel wins without losing a single one.

He's not as proficient on the ball as his compatriots Dean Huijsen and Pau Cubarsí and he’s not even super tall, but he imposes his sturdy, athletic frame on every opponent he faces, making him appear the largest player on the pitch. Whether it’s in the sky or on the ground, this kid cleans house and he lights up both boxes in any game he plays.

You can almost guarantee a move next summer, and don't rule out a call-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Bigger things are coming.

Read more about Jon Martín:

• SCOUTED XI: Our UEFA U-19 EURO Team of the Tournament, by Llew Davies and Jake Entwistle

20. Yan Diomandé

25 points — 2006, RW, RB Leipzig, Côte d'Ivoire

This pick is the product of SCOUTED HQ working like a recruitment team. Yan Diomandé popped up in Jake’s end-of-season stat check, prompting Llew to watch his tape—and he didn't disappoint.

Born in Abidjan, Diomandé came through the DME Academy in the US, a student-athlete organisation that offers education alongside elite-level sports facilities in Miami. From there, he move to Leganés in January 2025, playing the final eight games of the LaLiga season and building a small but alarmingly exciting sample of data. Not long after Llew published his full breakdown, RB Leipzig snapped him up for €20 million in July 2025.

The reasons Red Bull moved so quickly are obvious. Diomandé is a dynamic, almost game-breaking winger that can be destructive in multiple ways and on both sides of the ball. He carries hard, dribbles past defenders, and creates shots for himself and others, all while carrying his weight defensively and playing off both wings. He will be a tremendous asset for RB Leipzig.

The backstory is interesting, the profile is eye-catching, the potential is very exciting.

Read more about Yan Diomandé:

• Breaking down Yan Diomandé: an undiscovered gamebreaker - Llew Davies

19. Caleb Yirenkyi

27 points — 2006, CM, FC Nordsjælland, Ghana

Caleb Yirenkyi has the hallmarks of a high-level midfielder: assertive athleticism, security on the ball, intensity in challenges, adaptability - the whole shebang.

A graduate of the Right to Dream academy, the 19-year-old stepped into a starting role for FC Nordsjælland in February 2025, following the departure of Jeppe Tverskov, and has enjoyed a rapid rise since, winning Young Player of the Month accolades in Superligaen.

Already a mature athlete, he gets around the pitch easily and is aggressive and relentless in competing for duels. It’s because of those qualities that Ghana have fast-tracked Yirenkyi into the senior squad at right-back. It’s because of those qualities that interest from Premier League clubs is guaranteed.

The 2025/26 campaign will represent his full breakout campaign in Denmark and should earn him a place at next year's World Cup, if Ghana make it. Beyond that, a move to a top-level team beckons.

18. Gilberto Mora

28 points — 2008, AM, Club Tijuana, Mexico

In 2025 alone, Gilberto Mora has become the youngest debutant in Liga MX history, the youngest goalscorer in Liga MX history, and has even won the Gold Cup with the senior Mexico national team. FIFA regulations mean he can't move to a foreign club until his 18th birthday, but this won’t stop Europe’s elite battling for a pre-agreement.

What sets the mini Morita apart is his understanding of space. It’s an unquantifiable metric, but evident through the Mexican’s balance between possession, progression, penetration and production with both his passing and his movement.

Mora adds security on the ball with his low centre of gravity and neat, one-touch lay-offs. He brings progression through his punchier passes through the lines as well as his developing runs ahead of the ball. His set-piece and through-balls add penetration with the ball and his well-timed wanders into the penalty area seem to cause chaos without it. That’s why he always seems to pop up with a goal or two. He’s a pocket-sized pocket-dweller that consistently has a big impact on the game.

His stats at Club Tijuana so far this season? Over 500 minutes played across eight appearances, two goals scored, with plenty more opportunities to come. He's well ahead of the curve in his development.

Read more about Gilberto Mora:

• Starred Boy: Gilberto Mora - a featured section in Jake Entwistle's Monday Night SCOUTED newsletter

17. Josh King

32 points — 2007, CM, Fulham, England

Josh King has been a constant for England at youth international level, earning 38 caps from U-15 to U-19 level. Although diminutive in size, he makes a big impact with dynamic movement through all thirds and in every phase.

His agility and ball-retention can be platformed in any midfield role. He can defuse pressure from deep, progress the ball from the middle third or create separation in and around the penalty area, and has shown a canny knack of breaking beyond the ball in his early Premier League minutes.

The 18-year-old signed a long-term contract extension with Fulham in July and was immediately rewarded with a starting role to being the new Premier League campaign. A VAR nonsense robbed him of his first senior goal in the west London derby against Chelsea, but that didn’t stop him winning Fulham’s Goal of the Month award for his neat footwork and composed finish. King is on the fast track.

16. Jorthy Mokio

34 points — 2008, DM, AFC Ajax, Belgium

In 2024, Jorthy Mokio made his senior debut for KAA Gent, moved to Ajax on a free transfer after just two starts, earned a first-team bow in Europe and scored for Belgium’s U-21 side on his first appearances. In February 2025, he scored his first senior goal on his full European debut. In March, he made his senior debut for Belgium. Remember, he was born in 2008.

You could quite easily argue that already constitutes a breakthrough. So consider 2025/26 the season in which Mokio becomes the number one transfer target for Europe’s elite. Why? Because he has already proven to be an adept centre-back, left-back, number six and even a number eight.

He has defusive qualities both sides of the ball. His ability to get low and ride contact allows him to escape pressure in possession. Out of possession, he has an uncanny knack for blocking passes and making interceptions because of quick accelerations to close the ball while remaining in control and not over-committing.

He typifies the modern footballer, and Ajax is a good place for him to develop.

15. Jeremy Monga

36 points — 2009, LW, Leicester City, England

The EFL, specifically the Championship, is one of the most productive development leagues in Europe. Michael Olise and the Bellingham brothers are testament to the testing yet rewarding environment it provides. That’s why Jeremy Monga could take off this season.

Last season, he became the second-youngest debutant in Premier League history; Max Dowman has since bumped him to third. But in his second-ever Championship game, he took Jude Bellingham’s title as the youngest goalscorer in the competition’s history.

The specific skill to look out for is his complete two-footedness when dribbling. Monga is able to switch-stance seamlessly and capable of driving towards full-backs off both feet. He is also completely comfortable manipulating the ball in tight areas with either his left or his right. It’s spellbinding to watch and made to be even more so due to his razor sharp changes of direction. He can play off either wing and look like a complete natural.

While a bit-part figure at Leicester so far, don't be surprised to see him force his way into the starting XI before long.

14. Jean-Mattéo Bahoya

37 points — 2005, LW, Eintracht Frankfurt, France

Recording the fastest sprint speed in Bundesliga history is a pretty impressive badge of honour. But Jean-Mattéo Bahoya glides across the grass with his pace augmenting his skillset rather than defining it.

Bahoya is a disciplined winger. He tracks back into the final line of the defence if needed and is proactive in attempts to win the ball. This season, Eintracht Frankfurt’s offensive rebuild has platformed him further forward, which means we should see more of his offensive qualities. These include that smooth carrying we’ve already alluded to - that will lead to an increase in goals and assists which will no doubt turn heads in next summer’s transfer market.

You would not expect anything else from an Eintracht Frankfurt attacker.

13. Nathan De Cat

42 points — 2008, DM, RSC Anderlecht, Belgium

Nathan De Cat is an Anderlecht academy graduate that’s on the fast track through Belgian football. He's been playing for the B team since February 2024 at 15 years old, accumulating over 2,500 minutes in second division, and, in February 2025, he made his first-team debut and finished the 2024/25 season with regular appearances.

His combination of hulking size and athletic power has been a significant advantage in quickly chopping down counter-attacks and resolutely screening his defence, especially in youth football. In possession, his leggy ball-carrying adds value but his passing range is jaw-dropping. His technical agility is also frightening for such a big frame. He blends the best of both ball-winners and ball-players.

He stood out at last summer's UEFA U-17 EURO, making our Team of the Tournament, and has since begun the Pro League campaign as one of the first names on Anderlecht team sheets. This is just the beginning of what could be a high-level career.

Read more about Nathan De Cat:

• SCOUTED XI: Our 2025 UEFA U-17 EURO Team of the Tournament, by Llew Davies, Tom Curren and Jake Entwistle

12. Mohamed Kader Meïté

44 points — 2007, ST, Stade Rennais, France

Mohamed Kader Meïté is built for the modern football meta.

First of all, he's massive. Meïté fills out his jumbo 1.91m frame and is already adept at using it to dunk on decade-long senior professionals. With his back to goal, he can pin, roll and separate from his marker. He is also extremely effective in the air - which is skill not automatically guaranteed by height. Meïté’s vertical leap is huge and he consistently generates solid contact, even when surrounded by multiple defenders.

But he doesn't just provide a central target, he peels off into the half-space to pound runs beyond the last line of defence. Relentlessly. This combination of aerial prowess and game-stretching running is what established Victor Osimhen as one of Europe’s deadliest strikers. Meïté is not quite as telescopic and rangy as the Nigerian, but he is more sturdy and solid.

Such is the scalability of Meïté’s skillset, he won’t even need to score that many goals this season before the transfer rumours start flying. He is leading the line of a Big Five League side at 17 years old. The world will take notice this season.

Read more about Mohamed Kader Meïté:

• Mohamed Kader Meïté: 21 minutes to break the internet, by Llew Davies

11. Victor Froholdt

48 points — 2006, CM, FC Porto, Denmark

Victor Froholdt became FC København's record sale when he joined Porto for €20 million this summer. The Portuguese club will be looking to beat their own €60 million record when they sell him.

All-action, dynamic generalists in midfield are becoming all the rage and Froholdt is developing in that mould. First catching the eye for his destructive defensive output for FCK in last season’s UEFA Conference League, the Dane also appeared in our SkillCorner analysis that focussed on spotting teenagers bursting onto the scene because of his elite athletic potential.

He stands at 1.87m tall and gobbles up grass at extreme intensity. But this physicality and stamina does not just translate to off-ball skills. Froholdt is able to progress the ball through his movement and through his carrying in true ground-eating, box-to-box fashion à la Fede Valverde and Declan Rice.

He's already been named Midfielder of the Month, Young Player of the Month and MVP of the Month in Portugal's Primeira Liga. Porto’s record sale will be obliterated.

10. Kees Smit

66 points — 2006, CM, AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands

Kees Smit’s page in the SCOUTED database is among the most packed. This is Llew’s no-brainer; the banker; the one that can’t fail, and won't.

So far, it’s trending that way. A graduate of AZ Alkmaar's excellent academy, Smit was a key part of his club side that won the UEFA Youth League against all odds in the 2022/23 season, beating Real Madrid and Barcelona to do it. He then played a full season for Jong AZ in Eerste Divisie before stepping up to first team in 2024/25 season, ending it as a regular starter.

In the summer just gone, he lit up the UEFA U-19 EURO and drove Netherlands to the title. He became the first Dutchman to be named the UEFA Player of the Tournament at that age group and was joint-top scorer alongside Pablo García, Max Moerstedt and Said El Mala. Unsurprisingly, he also picked up the SCOUTED Golden Ball.

Smit is non-stop excellence. He never stops running: he develops situations with sharp off-ball runs, he moves the ball with incisive passes to facilitate attacks, he scores goals and provides assists because of his excellent ball-striking off both feet and he sets the standard in terms of work rate and leaving everything out on the pitch. His skillset and mentality belongs at the elite level.

Read more about Kees Smit:

• SCOUTED XI: Our UEFA U-19 EURO Team of the Tournament, by Llew Davies and Jake Entwistle

9. Josh Acheampong

73 points — 2006, CB, Chelsea, England

Picking Josh Acheampong this year was a risk. We have absolutely no doubts about his ability to become a first-choice centre-back for England; the issue is he plays for Chelsea and they have made it clear that high-potential academy prospects are now developed primarily for pure profit. This means we may not get to see enough of Acheampong in 2025/26 for it to truly be his breakout season. But when he does play, whoever is watching will take notice.

If you're lucky enough to see him play, you’ll be taken aback by two things: one, his lanky size and two, his smooth athleticism. Both shouldn’t go together, really, but they do. He has a tremendous coordination of his lanky limbs that manifests in speed, agility and control.

You’ll be even more moved when you see him stride through midfield with the ball. He has it in his locker to take two or three defenders out of the game at a time. He’s also composed and confident as a manipulator and passer. For such a lanky frame, his ability on the ball is clean and smooth.

All in all, Acheampong is a complete package that is very much suited to the modern game. Think Leny Yoro, but perhaps even more talented.

Read more about Josh Acheampong:

• The future of English football, by Llew Davies

8. Can Uzun

101 points — 2005, AM, Eintracht Frankfurt, Türkiye

The Eintracht Frankfurt environment has the ability to turbo-charge player value, especially for attacking players. That’s part of the reason you will find two of their players on this year’s SCOUTED50. But Can Uzun also makes this list by his own merit - specifically his meta-sympathetic combo of physical stature and technical skill.

1.86m is a great height. It affords him a frame that can take contact, especially useful considering the central pockets he operates in. His back-foot receptions in these areas are very smart and his body helps secure possession when turning away from the opponent.

His technical ability is most often displayed through ball-striking. Whether that be attempting long-range shots, punching passes through lines, clipping crosses or slide-rule passes through the eye of the needle, he has a wide repertoire at his disposal - all underpinned by his footwork. The ability to quickly shuffle his feet to provide the right platform to strike is hard to spot but important. Although he’s not fleet-footed in terms of max speed, he is when sorting them out in tight areas.

The hope is that Türkiye find space for him alongside Kenan Yıldız and Arda Güler at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Then, as is ordained, Eintracht Frankfurt will make a heap of profit on their €14 million investment.

Read more about Can Uzun:

• Profiling Can Uzun: Türkiye's record-breaking teenage ten, a featured section in Jake Entwistle's Monday Night SCOUTED newsletter

7. Konstantinos Karetsas

104 points — 2007, AM, KRC Genk, Greece

Born in Belgium, Konstantinos Karetsas put together an eye-catching highlight feel as a 15-year-old for Jong Genk in the 2023/24 campaign before becoming a first-team regular in the 2024/25 campaign.

He has consistently showcased his outstanding technical talent that makes him capable of shifting momentum of games by itself and manifests in tricky creativity and spectacular goals. Capable of playing behind the striker or ducking off the right wing, his ability to jink through tight gaps is excellent, stopping and starting in a flash, creating space to whip in crosses or crack off shots with his wicked left foot. Arsenal had him pinned as Ethan Nwaneri's replacement had he left the club, which says plenty about Karetsas' qualities and standing.

Earlier this year, he switched international allegiance to Greece and became the country’s youngest-ever goalscorer on his debut. It would be a treat to see him at next year's FIFA World Cup alongside the rest of Greece’s exciting crop of young talent. Karetsas is the type of talent you should very happily pay to watch.

6. Jérémy Jacquet

114 points — 2005, CB, Stade Rennais, France

When using the phrase ‘cheat code’ to describe a centre-back, a few things come to mind: effortless athleticism, smooth ball-carrying, pinpoint, punchy distribution, aerial dominance, lockdown ability, psychic reading of the game and unwavering composure. You have just described Jérémy Jacquet.

At the start of 2024, Stade Rennais ended Jacquet’s two-season loan to Clermont Foot six months early and put him straight in the starting line-up. On his first Ligue 1 start for his boyhood club, he made 8 interceptions. Rennes did not concede a goal during his first 328 minutes on the pitch.

Jacquet was included in the SCOUTED UEFA U-19 EURO Team of the Tournament in 2024, with his rangy strides and go-go-gadget legs a constant feature of our analysis. These traits augment his ability to make sliding recovery tackles or stretching interceptions, but he's also dominant in the air. That means that he can excel in any position across the backline, from right-back to wide centre-back or even as the central defender in a back three.

The versatility and quality of his skillset will not go unnoticed for much longer. The French centre-back market is the primo centre-back market and Jacquet will be the next big export.

5. Malick Fofana

115 points — 2005, LW, Olympique Lyonnais, Belgium

Malick Fofana always seems to fly under the radar. At KAA Gent, the explosion of Gift Emmanuel Orban and the Nigerian’s net-busters overshadowed Fofana’s own breakout. Even at OL last season, Rayan Cherki’s supernova campaign may have made you miss the Belgian's own breakthrough, a year that promised plenty.

The 2025/26 season, then, might be the season in which the spotlight finally turns his way. He is the standout name on the OL teamsheet now, and among the most direct wingers in Europe. His elusive, shifty, ambipedal dribbling has catapulted him to the top of big clubs' shortlists.

We will be tracking his progress in Ligue 1 intently before watching him at the World Cup.

4. Rodrigo Mora

130 points — 2007, AM, FC Porto, Portugal

Efficiency, calmness and composure characterises Rodrigo Mora’s style. His technical level is elite, but his game is all damage.

It’s all looking forward, carrying, attacking spaces, hitting runners, and targeting the right options - a heady cocktail that produces a dual creative-goalscoring threat.

All of this was apparent during the 2034/24 UEFA Youth League campaign and the subsequent UEFA U-17 EURO; he was awarded the SCOUTED Golden Ball for that tournament. He was unlucky, then, not to be included in last year’s SCOUTED50.

He broke into FC Porto’s first team last year and finished the Primeira Liga campaign with 10 goals and four assists in 1,387 minutes. That double-figure haul was achieved through maximum efficiency to the extent of being unrepeatable. But Mora has so often been relied upon to execute the final action in the big moments. His knack for finding the most dangerous goalscoring positions is a mark of his supreme game intelligence.

A potential move to Saudi Arabia collapsed this summer and stunted his pre-season. But now he can wrestle back his starting spot and look towards a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.

Read more about Rodrigo Mora:

• Silent Protagonist: the story of Rodrigo Mora, by Bence Bocsák

3. Rio Ngumoha

185 points — 2008, LW, Liverpool, England

Pinched from Chelsea in 2024, Rio Ngumoha has since progressed quickly through Liverpool's academy teams to become a first-team squad member. His gravity was particularly obvious in the 2024/25 UEFA Youth League and was something we wrote about often.

Already this season, Rio, as he wears on his shirt, became the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history with his last-minute winner against Newcastle. Although not as dramatic, his cameo in the 0-1 win against Burnley also captured why everyone is so excited about his development. A pass across the penalty box to Jeremie Frimpong stood out.

His trademark shutter-step dribbling is proving to be just as debilitating for senior pros as it was at youth level. Rio’s explosive acceleration creates chasms of separation but he also has the vision and clean shooting mechanics to take maximum advantage of that space. He is already one of Liverpool’s most penetrating ball-carriers.

A mark of his current ability, let alone potential, was Liverpool’s decision to include him in their UEFA Champions League squad ahead of Federico Chiesa. Despite his age, Rio was ineligible for List B as he has not yet spent three years at his current club. The Reds will be hoping he lights up the left wing for a decade.

Read more about Rio Ngumoha:

• The gravity of Rio Ngumoha, by Llew Davies

2. Ayyoub Bouaddi

208 points — 2007, CM, LOSC Lille, France

There is a reason Ayyoub Bouaddi is the co-cover star of SCOUTED50 2025/26. He is the next big thing in French football. He is on the fast track to the very top.

In October 2023, Bouaddi became the youngest player in UEFA club competition history when making his Lille debut in the UEFA Conference League at the age of 16 years and 3 days old - a record since broken by 15-year-old AEK Larnaca attacking midfielder David Gerasimou. A few weeks later, Bouaddi became the first 2007-born player to feature in Ligue 1.

Fast forward two years and he is now a regular starter for LOSC and has impressed against the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus in the UEFA Champions League. He is an U-21 international with France.

Bouaddi is one of those centre-mids that catches your eye straight away. He is slim yet sleek, equipped with a balance that is easy on the eye and valuable under pressure, a control that feeds into his platforming passing, a sense of smartness that enables him to carry his weight on both sides of the ball at the base of midfield. He takes care of the details which bolt onto the basics of a high-level player with a high-value profile. The bigger picture is his athletic potential. His physical frame can handle the rigours of senior football already – he’s fairly sturdy in contact, and there is a promising power to his running and tackling.

This season should see him play 3,000 minutes and more, the perfect precursor for a move to one of the big boys of European football. Make no mistakes, the elite of the elite will be after him.

Read more about Ayyoub Bouaddi:

• Why Arsenal should sign Ayyoub Bouaddi, by Llew Davies

1. Max Dowman

227 points — 2009, RW, Arsenal, England

Sometimes, all you can do is point your nose in the direction of the noise.

We could have waited to include Max Dowman in any of the next four SCOUTED50 lists. He would have been eligible for the for the 2029/30 edition, and would have only missed out on 2030/31 by one day.

But, just as Lamine Yamal’s breakthrough became impossible to ignore, we simply had no choice but to act now. Not only has Dowman become the third-youngest debutant in Premier League history, Mikel Arteta has included him in the UEFA Champions League squad. Should he feature in any of the first six fixtures, he will become the first 15-year-old to make an appearance in the competition.

This will not be the season he becomes a locked-in starter for Arsenal. But it will be the year he becomes one of the most talked-about players in the world, if he's not already. So let us add some words to the growing collection.

Max Dowman is a matador. He waves a red muleta at frenzied defenders before whipping the cloth away faster than they can blink. When he moves his feet become a cartoon blur. His close control is extraordinary; he dances, the ball moving beneath his studs like it's attached, before he skips over and around challenges and bodies and entire defences. He's impressionistic, improvisational, a player capable of the extraordinary moments that live forever: and this more than anything is why he is already so famous, because every other touch ends up on social media and generates comment after comment of sheer, unfettered disbelief. He's how old? Just wait until you see him in person.

Above all, Max Dowman is an original. One of one. Number one. Our SCOUTED50 winner for 2025/26. Did you see it coming?

Given England’s depth of attacking options, a 2026 World Cup call-up is unlikely and unnecessary. But don't be surprised if he’s in the senior squad by the time the 2027 U-21 EURO comes around. He will be 17 years old.

Read more about Max Dowman:

• Next Gen Matador, a featured section in Jake Entwistle's Monday Night SCOUTED newsletter

That's all, folks. Thanks for sticking with us for another year.

We'd like to take this chance to thank Matthew Shipley, the cover artist behind this edition. Matt illustrated the covers for all of 2020's print magazine run, and it was a delight to have him return. You can check out Matt's work here.

We can only continue to pay artists and designers and writers because you guys support us financially. We know that's not easy for many, and we'd like to express our immense gratitude again - we love this job, we love SCOUTED, and we are grateful for every day we get to wake up and grow the magazine a little more.

If you liked this list, please spread the word. We are still a long way from being sustainable, and every new subscriber counts. Tell your friends.

We'll see you next October,

Tom, Llew, Jake, and the extended SCOUTED team