Who will be the breakout start of the Premier League season? We’ve profiled five emerging talents to keep a close eye on as the season gets underway this weekend.
Premier League: Five young players to watch in 2024/25:
Mikey Moore – Tottenham
Tottenham have one of the most exciting academy groups in the Premier League right now with the u-21 side crowned Premier League 2 champions in 2023/24.
Mikey Moore was outstanding during that triumph and has been in the goals for Spurs’ senior side in pre-season. The 17-year-old has wonderful balance and poise in attacking areas and has impressed Ange Postecoglou during the summer schedule.
The teenager is unlikely to leave on loan with Postecoglou set to introduce Moore into the first-team after the academy prospect signed his first professional contract with the North Londoners this week.
Mikey Moore delivering in pre-season ???? pic.twitter.com/f4bbjo5sL2
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 17, 2024
“It’s fair to say it’s incredible that he’s turning 17,” Postecoglou said.
“We brought him into the first-team environment at the back-end of last year. Every time he’s played for the under-18s or under-21s, he’s had an impact.
“For a very young guy, he adjusted really quickly [to the first team]. He’s come back pre-season and done really well in the games and in training. It’s great for this football club that he’s come through our academy and is already showing great promise.
“But he’s a young man. Our role is to have the best possible environment for him to be the best footballer he can be.”
Will Lankshear is another to watch after being named Premier League 2 Player of the Season in 2023/24. The 19-year-old scored 25 goals in 26 games last season but could be sent on loan to aid his development.
Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
Expectations have been high for Ethan Nwaneri since the teenager’s record-breaking debut for Arsenal in the 2022/23 season. A substitute appearance against Brentford, aged just 15 years and 181 days old, made the midfielder the youngest-ever player in the history of England’s top flight.
Since then Nwaneri has been developing in Arsenal’s academy group and has earned plaudits from Mikel Arteta for his performances with the senior side in pre-season. The Arsenal manager has praised the personality of the player, who has been a prolific presence for England at youth level with 15 goals in 28 appearances for the u-17 side.
Mikel Arteta on 17 year-olds Ethan Nwaneri & Myles Lewis-Skelly… ????????
????️ “If they continue like they are right now, it’s not going to have any difference whether they come from the academy or if we signed them from Argentina”
They’ve been cooking in pre-season. Hopefully both… pic.twitter.com/2z6YNQNEyC
— Rising Ballers (@RisingBallers_) August 9, 2024
Trey Nyoni – Liverpool
Trey Nyoni has caught the eye of Arne Slot during pre-season with exciting cameos against Real Betis and Sevilla indicating he could be set for a big season.
The 17-year-old was snapped up from Leicester’s academy set-up last summer and has excelled across a number of midfield roles in pre-season. He scored a brilliant goal during the win against Sevilla at Anfield, though Slot has urged caution in a bid to cool the hype.
“He’s only just turned 17 and his body still has to grow,” the Dutchman said.
First-time finish from Nyoni ???? pic.twitter.com/WtdckKrNuO
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 11, 2024
“We are really careful with him. He doesn’t join every session. You can see his quality. He needs some time to grow to play at the Premier League level but he’s an interesting player.”
Chido Obi-Martin – Manchester United
Manchester United have pulled off a coup after luring Chido Obi-Martin to the club from Arsenal.
The 16-year-old hit the headlines last season after a prolific campaign for Arsenal’s academy, which included scoring 10 goals in a single game against Liverpool at u-16 level.
In April, he scored seven goals in an u-18 game and scored 32 goals in 20 league games for the Gunners’ u-18 team in 2023/24. He has represented England and Denmark at youth level, scoring 10 times in 14 caps for the latter’s u-17 group.
Chido Obi-Martin really bagged 32 goals in just 18 U18 games last season… United have copped a true bagsman. Cold. ????❄️ pic.twitter.com/6YWj9LGGXx
— Rising Ballers (@RisingBallers_) August 2, 2024
Part of the persuasion in taking him to Manchester United was a clearer route to first-team football, where he could act as third-choice number nine this season behind Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
Oscar Bobb – Manchester City
Oscar Bobb’s brilliant pre-season campaign has raised expectations around the midfielder. Restricted to brief cameos in 2023/24, the 21-year-old featured for just 295 minutes during Manchester City’s Premier League title success.
The delay in the returns of senior stars after summer tournaments has handed Bobb a chance to impress and he has grabbed it with both hands, scoring twice and providing four assists during the Citizens’ summer fixtures.
Oscar Bobb’s pre-season ???????????? pic.twitter.com/34n5wfXE9X
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 7, 2024
Bobb dazzled with his elusive footwork and creativity, with an effortless ability to beat players in the final third noteworthy. His promising summer has ended cruelly with a fractured leg in training this week but Bobb will bounce back in the coming months.
A wonderful goal at Newcastle last season highlighted his potential but Bobb’s qualities remain rather unknown to the casual fan. That could change in 2024/25.
Read – Eight talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend
See more – Six Premier League players who have impressed in pre-season
