Top 50 Young Footballers – Part 3 (30-21)
As price tags of footballers continue increasing, a lot of clubs are turning their attention to younger players. These players boast of an unfiltered energy with raw passion and watching them play is often a delightful affair. In fact, over the last few seasons, a lot of young stars have come to the fore and amazed us with their sublime skills. After already engaging in Part 1 and Part 2 of our Top 50 countdown, here is our list of 30-21.
30. Kai Havertz – Bayer Leverkusen
Likened to Mesut Ozil a lot of times, Havertz is a midfielder by trade but he is known to display impeccable attacking quality. He has been with Leverkusen since he was 11 years of age and has managed to cement a spot for himself in the first-team despite being just an 18-year-old. Although he played in the central midfield area as a youth star, Havertz has often been deployed wide right for the first-team. If he continues to develop this way, there is no limit to what the young German can achieve.
29. Ben Chilwell – Leicester City
The 21-year-old Englishman has found himself playing a starring role for Leicester this season. Having come through the ranks of the Foxes, Chilwell has done exceedingly well at left-back. In fact, he is now being regarded as one of the best in the country and is also understood to be close to breaking into England’s senior team. Consistent, reliable and solid – these are some of his most admired attributes and the fact that he has managed to keep Christian Fuchs away from the starting lineup for Leicester is quite commendable.
28. Alex Iwobi – Arsenal
An Arsenal academy product, Iwobi boasts of sublime talent and ball control. He is one of those players who can dictate the game with his effective passes and dribbles while also providing adequate support to the attack. Arsene Wenger often deploys him across a variety of positions and more often than not, Iwobi does quite well. The 21-year-old’s versatility is one of his biggest strengths and although he has not been consistent enough this season, there is absolutely no doubting his potential.
27. Serge Gnabry – 1899 Hoffenheim- on loan from Bayern Munich
Currently on loan at Hoffenheim, the 22-year-old is actually a Bayern Munich player. He was initially with Arsenal and even impressed for the first-team but the club eventually let him leave. That is probably something the Gunners regret even till today since Gnabry’s performances since then have skyrocketed. The Stuttgart-born sensation was particularly incredible in the 2016 Olympics and there seems to be no stopping him. Regarded as a bright prospect for Bayern, Gnabry can go a long way.
26. Carel Eiting – Ajax
Eiting is yet to break into the first-team but his performances for their youth sides have been truly scintillating. He is a ball-playing defensive midfielder by trade and rose through the ranks quite rapidly, after having joined the club at the tender age of 9. In fact, the now 20-year-old was a driving force in Ajax’s journey to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Youth League and there seems to be no limit to his potential. His next goal will be to break into the first-team and if he continues to develop at this pace, nobody can keep him out.
25. Leon Bailey – Bayer Leverkusen
The Bundesliga is often renowned for producing some of the best talents in the world and Bailey is understood to be the next superstar to have emerged from the German top-flight. At just 20 years of age, the young star has managed to attract attention from some of the best clubs across the world for his spectacular attacking instinct and technical skills. Leverkusen will be fighting tooth and nail to fend off attention but when a player is as gifted as Bailey, that will be a tough task.
24. Vinicius Junior – Flamengo
The 17-year-old teenage sensation has attracted attention from Real Madrid and one look at his performances is enough to understand why. A midfielder by trade, Junior has put on some remarkable displays for the Brazilian side. He knows how to use his physicality to his advantage and his technical intelligence is quite mature despite being so young. Junior can effectively control the pace of the game in the final third and has put in some stunning attacking runs for his club.
23. Vitor Eduardo – Palmeiras
The 18-year-old has earned rave reviews for his performances as a centre-back for Brazilian club Palmeiras this season. He even captained the Brazil Under-17 side to victory in the South American Championship last year and his team was renowned for having the best defence and he played a vital role in that. Known for being a natural leader with solid defensive skills, the young star can definitely achieve a lot in the near future.
22. Timo Werner – RB Leipzig
At 21 years of age, Werner is reckoned as one of the brightest young German talents and is expected to put up quite a show in the upcoming World Cup as well. Currently playing for RB Leipzig, Werner has blossomed into a mature and skilled striker and has been a constant figure for the side this season. Having already smashed 15 goals and provided 3 assists so far in the ongoing campaign, Werner has attracted attention from elite European clubs and it is only a matter of time until he leaves Leipzig for pastures new.
21. Dayot Upamecano – RB Leipzig
Another player from the same side, Dayot Upamecano, was subject to a lot of attention in the recent transfer window. He was linked to a couple of Premier League sides but he ultimately chose to stay put. The 19-year-old has been in blistering form and has been one of the reasons behind the club’s strong defence this season so far. With every game, Upamecano seems to be getting better and he is known to make some much-needed tackles and interceptions to help his team.