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Invoice Connelly
At this level, Bayern Munich ought to perceive higher than any membership that if Plan A would not work out, there is not any have to panic. Simply get on with your corporation. That is likely to be true for Plan B and Plan C, too.
In the summertime of 2024, after firing Thomas Tuchel, it felt like Bayern obtained turned down by roughly 27 candidates earlier than selecting Vincent Kompany, who had simply been sacked after main Burnley to relegation. In the summertime of 2025, their switch plans went awry as nicely when Bundesliga stars like Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) and Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United) selected the Premier League over the German giants. As a substitute of touchdown both or each approaching-their-prime abilities, they spent huge on veteran Luis Díaz, introduced Nicolas Jackson in on mortgage, and elected to offer a precocious 17-year-old named Lennart Karl a little bit of enjoying time.
So having skilled many public failures over a number of summers, Bayern are a few quarter of the best way by way of 2025-26 and are of their greatest run of kind in 5 years, with 14 wins from 14 video games in all competitions. At this second, a minimum of, Karl has as many mixed objectives and assists in 290 minutes in all competitions (three) as Wirtz has in 934 with Liverpool.
Karl additionally turned Bayern’s youngest UEFA Champions League scorer with a beautiful, composed strike in final week’s pummeling of Membership Brugge, and on Saturday he adopted that up with one thing much more outrageous towards Borussia Mönchengladbach.
17-YEAR-OLD LENNART KARL BECAME BAYERN’S YOUNGEST-EVER UCL GOALSCORER MIDWEEK AND THEN SCORES AN INSANE GOAL TODAY!
WHAT A TALENT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4fwu0noPCs
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 25, 2025
For as a lot oxygen as transfers and switch rumors occupy within the basic soccer ecosystem, probably the most satisfying tales typically come out of nowhere. And this sport presents an infinite nicely of enjoyable, younger expertise ready for a possibility to spring up and entertain us.
So here is a listing of my 15 favourite 21-and-under males’s gamers doing thrilling issues on this younger season. Some had been certainly the themes of heavy switch rumors and reporting, however others seemingly appeared out of the blue.
(Observe: We’ll restrict this checklist to gamers who entered the season having performed beneath 2,000 minutes within the Huge 5 leagues. You do not want me to inform you that somebody like Lamine Yamal is superior. You already know that.)
– Olley: Nwaneri returns to highlight, seizes probability to shine for Arsenal
– Cristiano Ronaldo’s race to 1,000 objectives: When will he get there?
– O’Hanlon: Why we already know Arsenal will win the Premier League
Estêvão, Chelsea / Brazil
Age: 18
Key stats (all competitions): 475 minutes, two objectives from 22 shot makes an attempt (3.8 xG), one help (1.5 xA) from eight probabilities created, 56 progressive carries, 46 1v1 makes an attempt
The entire “main membership indicators thrilling Brazilian teenager” factor typically would not repay; Endrick‘s present travails at Actual Madrid are illustrating that fairly nicely in the intervening time. The competitors degree is larger, the defenders are greater, and also you wrestle to search out your method earlier than getting repeatedly loaned out.
Statistically, Estêvão was at all times a bit totally different than different up-and-comers. He had 13 league objectives and 9 assists in his age-17 season with Palmeiras and rapidly proved that he might rack up the shot quantity regardless of being simply 5-foot-9 and 137 kilos. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has well eased him in at Stamford Bridge, with seven substitute appearances and 5 begins (and just one full 90-minute look) up to now — and the method is paying off. He leads the crew in shot makes an attempt, high-quality pictures (price over 0.2 xG), 1v1 makes an attempt and 1v1s within the field, and he is solely performed 44% of Chelsea’s minutes.
Oh, and he already has a signature second, too:
Estêvão is a lightning bolt for a crew that may in any other case be a bit too stolid in assault at instances. He is an absolute delight, and primarily based on his xG figures, his ending has prevented him from having fun with much more of a breakout.
Can Uzun, Eintracht Frankfurt / Turkey
Age: 19
Key stats (all competitions): 834 minutes, six objectives from 32 pictures (2.4 xG), 4 assists (2.6 xA) from 14 probabilities created, 59 progressive carries, 61 progressive passes
Granted, it might need helped Eintracht if the subsequent superior younger expertise they developed had been a defender of some type — even whereas permitting just one mixed aim to St. Pauli and Borussia Dortmund during the last week, they’ve nonetheless allowed 28 objectives of their final 10 matches — however you’re taking what you may get, and Uzun has been a delight. The 19-year-old hit a wall lately when it comes to aim contributions, however since he is much more of an attacking midfielder than a ahead and infrequently touches the ball within the field, objectives should not be considered one of his most vital stats.
Nonetheless, in his first season as a fundamental contributor, he at present ranks in his crew’s prime three in objectives, shot makes an attempt, assists, probabilities created, duels and fouls suffered.
Uzun makes issues occur.
Franco Mastantuono, Actual Madrid / Argentina
Age: 18
Key stats (all competitions): 599 minutes, one aim from 26 pictures (3.0 xG), zero assists (1.2 xA) from eight probabilities, 49 1v1 makes an attempt, 17 fouls suffered (seven within the attacking third)
Like Estêvão and Uzun, Mastantuono’s fundamental job is to attempt stuff and assault defenders. He is tenth on his crew in minutes however third in pictures and 1v1 makes an attempt, and he is a prepared contributor in protection as nicely — solely left again Álvaro Carreras has blocked extra passes — which is extremely welcome on a crew that options two well-known attackers who contribute virtually nothing in that regard.
Expectations had been excessive for Mastantuono after he contributed 4 objectives and 6 assists earlier than his 18th birthday in components of two seasons with River Plate. His ending has been slightly Estêvão-esque — one aim from pictures price 3.0 xG — however he is enjoying his function nicely and carving out a distinct segment on a star-laden squad.
Senny Mayulu, Paris Saint-Germain / France
Age: 19
Key stats (all competitions): 627 minutes, two objectives from 16 pictures (2.0 xG), one help (1.1 xA) from 9 probabilities, 58% success fee on 73 floor duels
Warren Zaïre-Emery, additionally 19, has performed method an excessive amount of ball to make this checklist, however PSG nonetheless do not lack for different thrilling children. (Hell, the one motive I did not put 17-year-old proper winger Ibrahim Mbaye on the checklist was as a result of I am making an attempt to unfold the love round.)
Mayulu scored the final aim in PSG’s historic 5-0 romp over Internazionale in final season’s Champions League remaining, and in principally 60-minute midfield shifts this season, he is been tasked with operating at defenses and handing the ball over to attackers within the attacking third. He is good at it, and he is additionally fairly good at teleporting into high-quality positions within the field.
Whereas others on this checklist are principally firing away from lengthy vary, 4 of Mayulu’s 15 pictures have been price a minimum of 0.2 xG. Solely Bradley Barcola and Gonçalo Ramos have tried extra high-quality pictures for PSG this season.
Valentín Barco, Strasbourg / Argentina
Age: 21
Key stats (all competitions): 1,061 minutes, three assists (3.1 xA) from 20 probabilities created, 84 progressive carries, 85 progressive passes, 37 fouls suffered, 71 ball recoveries
On a Strasbourg crew that began with simply two losses in its first 12 matches, Barco at present ranks first in probabilities created, touches, 1v1 makes an attempt, fouls suffered, whole duels, floor duels gained, blocked crosses and ball recoveries and second in progressive carries, interceptions and all defensive interventions. He spends a bit over half his time in central midfield whereas dabbling at all the pieces from left wing to left again to defensive midfield to middle again.
Wherever he’s, he is crucial participant apart from, maybe, main goal-scorer Joaquín Panichelli.
Barco appeared like a can’t-miss prospect when he moved from Boca Juniors to Brighton & Hove Albion, however he evidently wanted another change of surroundings to begin unlocking his potential. Properly, it is unlocked.
Noah Sadiki, Sunderland / DR Congo
Age: 20
Key stats (all competitions): 802 minutes, 54 progressive carries, 28 progressive passes, 14 fouls suffered, 12 blocked passes, 14 interceptions, 25 ball recoveries
This checklist is loaded with Make Stuff Occur™ guys, and Sadiki is already among the best within the Premier League in that regard. After serving as a superb ball progressor and chaos agent for Union St.-Gilloise‘s Belgian title-winning crew final season, Sadiki is enjoying the same function alongside Granit Xhaka within the midfield of a Sunderland facet that’s overachieving spectacularly in 2025-26.
Sadiki pushes the ball up the pitch and attracts contact in assault (first on the crew in fouls suffered), and he obstructs each passing lane in protection (first in blocked passes and interceptions). With this work-rate, he is an ideal complement for Xhaka, permitting the veteran to deal with issues like “being a progressive passing machine” and “as soon as once more offering the best veteran management within the sport.”
Sunderland are overachieving towards their xG figures in a method that’s virtually actually unsustainable, and regression is possible, however additionally they genuinely outplayed Chelsea late in final weekend’s 2-1 upset at Stamford Bridge. There’s some magic to this crew, and the Sadiki-Xhaka combo is a significant motive why.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, Arsenal / England
Age: 19
Key stats (all competitions): 445 minutes, three assists (0.6 xA) from 5 probabilities created, 20 progressive carries, 25 progressive passes, 16 fouls suffered (4 within the attacking third)
As a result of Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is distributing minutes to so many guys inside a ridiculously deep squad — together with 15-year-old Max Dowman, who might have made this checklist regardless of enjoying solely 125 minutes up to now — it is laborious to get a whole learn on Lewis-Skelly’s capabilities. However his per-90 stats are nice, and moments like his help towards Atlético Madrid in final week’s Champions League blowout actually give us a fairly good trace.
Ho hum: simply casually dribbling round and thru 4 Atleti defenders and completely cueing up a first-timer from Gabriel Martinelli towards probably the most celebrated defenses in Europe. No huge deal.
Lennart Karl, Bayern Munich / Germany
Age: 17
Key stats (all competitions): 303 minutes, two objectives from 16 pictures (1.9 xG), one help (0.8 xA) from 4 probabilities created, 31 progressive carries, 18 1v1 makes an attempt, seven fouls suffered
Take it away, Tor-Kristian Karlsen:
“Glorious at enjoying between the defensive traces, his low middle of gravity — he measures at slightly below 5-foot-6 — provides him the steadiness and agility to navigate brief areas. In the meantime, an explosive first step makes him elusive in crowded areas, typically permitting him to slide away from defenders earlier than they’ve had the possibility to get settled. […] Within the brief time period, Bayern appear intent on rotating Karl by way of a number of attacking roles: as a right-sided inside-forward, a slim No. 10, and sometimes a left-sided choice to encourage his two-footed improvement. Every function presents a distinct problem, however will assist refining skills resembling acceleration, composure, flexibility, sport intelligence and artistic risk-taking.”
Karl is flexible, and he is extremely distinctive in stature and talent set. It is likely to be simpler for a younger man to discover a function by becoming right into a sure field, and Karl most actually would not, however he is a captivating prospect.
Assan Ouédraogo, RB Leipzig / Germany
Age: 19
Key stats (all competitions): 333 minutes, two objectives (2.1 xG) from 9 pictures, three assists (0.8 xA) from six probabilities created, 9 fouls suffered, 71.9% success fee from 32 duels, 50.0% aerial success fee
Ouédraogo scored the title-winning penalty for Germany on the Beneath-17 Euros in 2023, and he turned Schalke 04‘s youngest ever goal-scorer, placing the ball within the web on his skilled debut at age 17 in 2023-24. At a Paul Pogba-esque 6-foot-3, 185 kilos, he is seemed the half all alongside, and after barely enjoying in his first season at RB Leipzig, it seems he has the lay of the land.
Ouédraogo has began RBL’s final 5 matches, they usually’ve taken 13 factors in these 5 as he is made 4 aim contributions. He is doing a bit little bit of all the pieces, from clearances to short-range objectives, and RBL is reestablishing a fairly excessive degree after final season’s disappointing marketing campaign.
Leopold Querfeld, Union Berlin / Austria
Age: 21
Key stats (all competitions): 930 minutes, two objectives (0.7 xG) from 10 pictures, seven probabilities created (0.5 xA), 45 progressive carries, 43 progressive passes, 63.2% success fee from 57 aerial duels, 163 defensive interventions
There aren’t many defenders on this checklist each as a result of defensive stats are much less horny and, nicely, there aren’t a great deal of teenage defenders within the prime leagues. It is loads simpler to interrupt guys in with hustle-and-try-stuff roles up entrance.
Nonetheless, Querfeld’s an fascinating prospect. He put in over 1,700 Bundesliga minutes final season and due to this fact barely certified right here, however even earlier than that he logged over 4,300 minutes for Fast Vienna in Austria. He is a licensed Huge Dude, standing 6-foot-3, manning the center of Union’s three-man again line and profitable about 60% of his aerials.
Union are again to doing Union issues this season, absorbing strain, enjoying bodily (and committing plenty of fouls), counterattacking and profitable the set-piece battle. It says loads that Querfeld has been requested to man such an vital place in that regard. He even scored a aim within the DFB Pokal.
Christian Kofane, Bayer Leverkusen / Cameroon
Age: 19
Key stats (all competitions): 558 minutes, 4 objectives (4.4 xG) from 20 pictures, 10 probabilities created (0.5 xA)
Bayer Leverkusen are working by way of an up-and-down marketing campaign of their first season after the departure of supervisor Xabi Alonso, chief creator Wirtz and others. However the 6-foot-2 Kofane, who scored eight objectives with Albacete within the Spanish second division final yr, is offering shiny moments already.
Kofane is a Haaland-model striker, that means he is in for pictures and objectives and never a ton of different issues — per 90 minutes, he is averaging simply 25.9 touches however 3.2 pictures, 35% of that are price a minimum of 0.2 xG. These aren’t Erling Haaland ranges, however they’re intriguing for a youngster enjoying in a top-flight league for the primary time. He scored Leverkusen’s go-ahead aim towards PSV within the Champions League, and he is began the final 5 matches for brand spanking new supervisor Kasper Hjulmand. It has been a really shiny begin.
Adrián Liso, Getafe (on mortgage from Actual Zaragoza) / Spain
Age: 20
Key stats (all competitions): 634 minutes, three objectives (1.0 xG) from 12 pictures, two assists (1.2 xA) from two probabilities created, 23 progressive carries, six fouls gained within the attacking third, 22 ball recoveries
Exterior of Barcelona and Actual Madrid, there have not been a ton of high-impact children in LaLiga early this season, however Liso, a second-division standout for Actual Zaragoza, obtained loaned as much as a first-division membership and was instantly named LaLiga’s under-23 participant of the month in August. Getafe have scored solely 10 objectives in 10 league matches, however he has three of them, and he is assisted two others. And on a crew loaded with 30-and-over veterans, he and 20-year-old midfielder Mario Martín are placing in some severe hustle time.
Geovany Quenda, Sporting CP / Portugal
Age: 18
Key stats (all competitions): 722 minutes, two objectives (1.8 xG) from 15 pictures, 4 assists (2.5 xA) from 18 probabilities created, 19 fouls suffered, 54.2% success fee on 83 floor duels, 46 ball recoveries
Of the 16 gamers with a minimum of 250 minutes for Sporting this season, solely three are beneath 24 years outdated, and just one is beneath 21: Quenda, who’s racing up and down the proper touchline and offering all of the younger vitality he can for a veteran squad.
Quenda is beginning about half the time, however whereas he is eighth on the crew in minutes, he is second in assists and fouls suffered and fourth in objectives and pictures on aim. He is additionally gained 64% of his tackles, and he is third on the crew in ball recoveries. He had a aim and an help in Sporting’s Champions League-opening win over Kairat Almaty, too.
Quenda, who has agreed a €52 million transfer to Chelsea in 2026, is a boundless runner with a artistic streak in assault — that is a fairly nice mixture.
Antoine Mendy, Good / Senegal
Age: 21
Key statistics (all competitions): 1,022 minutes, 204 defensive interventions, 30 blocked passes and pictures, 70.7% success fee on 41 aerial makes an attempt, 80 progressive carries, 50 progressive passes
I used to be tempted to place Mendy’s 19-year-old center-back companion Juma Bah on right here, too, as the 2 have each been requested to carry the fort fairly a bit for a good however offensively challenged crew. However we’ll go along with Mendy right here; the 21-year-old transformed attacker has battled by way of a run of accidents to play at a very excessive degree this season. (He is discovered beneath ageless defender Dante at Good, too.)
Mendy has made the second-most defensive interventions in all of Ligue 1 — a touch of simply how a lot duress the Good backline has confronted, but in addition an indication of sureness on Mendy’s half — and he is dynamite within the air. His odds of constructing the Senegal squad for subsequent yr’s World Cup are fairly good.
Joane Gadou, RB Salzburg / France
Age: 18
Key stats (UEFA competitions): 630 minutes, 90 defensive interventions, 94 progressive carries, progressive passes
Taking part in protection for Salzburg is a novel form of stress take a look at: you are going to be taught all about possession play and correct buildup from the again, and you are going to should put out all kinds of fires in transition. Gadou is holding his personal. The 6-foot-4 middle again has performed each minute of Salzburg’s UEFA season, and he is averaging almost 13 defensive interventions per 90 minutes and main the crew in blocked crosses and pictures. He is additionally main in progressive carries and is second in progressive passes.
Gadou has already been linked to Bayern and different heavyweights, and it isn’t laborious to see why. However within the meantime, he’ll hold enjoying the sport on the toughest issue degree.
