The Premier League’s new season isn’t just about blockbuster signings and established stars—it’s the proving ground for a new wave of fearless young talents. These are players who don’t just fill shirts; they shift momentum, spark belief, and sometimes, redefine what’s possible for their clubs.
From teenage debutants breaking records to versatile game‑changers earning the trust of top‑flight managers, the 2025/26 campaign is poised to be a showcase of next‑generation brilliance. In this guide, we spotlight the young Premier League players who have the talent, temperament, and opportunity to lead their teams toward silverware and unforgettable moments.
Get ready—because the next chapter of the EPL’s story will be written in fast breaks, fearless dribbles, and the composure of players who haven’t even hit their twenties.
Young Premier League players to watch in 2025–26
| Player | Club | Position | Why watch in 2025–26 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Dowman | Arsenal | AM/W | Gifted 15-year-old who dazzled in preseason; could force cameos in a stacked attack |
| Ethan Nwaneri | Arsenal | W/AM | Already producing at senior level; poised to kick on with end-product |
| Myles Lewis‑Skelly | Arsenal | LB/CM | Versatile left-sided engine; backed by a long-term deal and real trust |
| Rio Ngumoha | Liverpool | LW/RW | Explosive 16-year-old; Diaz’s exit has opened a path for minutes |
| Nico O’Reilly | Man City | LB/AM | Guardiola-used hybrid; late-season spark and a niche role from left-back |
| Lucas Bergvall | Tottenham | CM | Mature beyond his years; timing and press resistance for a starting role |
| Mathys Tel | Tottenham | FW | Post-Son era finisher with chaos in his boots; bought to be pivotal |
| Archie Gray | Tottenham | CM/RB/CB | All-action utility glue; raises the floor and tempo of Spurs’ XI |
| Ayden Heaven | Man United | LCB | Perfect fit for Amorim’s back three; power, composure, modern profile |
| Harry Howell | Brighton | FW/W | Youngest-ever Prem debut for Brighton; trusted by a coach who bets on youth |
| Charalampos Kostoulas | Brighton | AM/FW | Big fee for a teen; direct, creative, and tailored to Brighton’s model |
| Justin Devenny | Crystal Palace | CM | Big-moment temperament; rhythm passer who quickens Vieira‑style patterns |
| Josh Acheampong | Chelsea | RB/CB | Trusted by Maresca; injuries elsewhere could accelerate his minutes |
| Josh King | Fulham | CM | Academy midfielder, not the veteran striker; pre-season trust suggests a role |
Arsenal
Max Dowman
Arsenal’s prodigy plays with grown-up decision-making and fearless carry. He impressed on tour, winning a penalty versus Newcastle, and he looks closer to the door than his age suggests. Minutes will be managed, but you’ll feel his presence when the game swings chaotic.
- Ceiling this season: Impact sub in cup ties and late league cameos.
- Signature: Slide-rule passes from the right half-space; double-moves to create contact and draw fouls.
- Risk factor: Protective rotation and a crowded attacking group.
Ethan Nwaneri
After a first real taste last season, Nwaneri’s blend of acceleration, disguise, and one-touch combinations gives Arsenal a different gear in tight games. He’s expected to push for steady involvement despite heavy competition for minutes.
- Ceiling this season: Trusted rotational attacker who changes game states off the bench.
- Signature: Early whip deliveries; blind-side runs into the box; cool finishing.
Myles Lewis‑Skelly
Valued, extended, and increasingly versatile, Lewis‑Skelly’s left-sided profile lets Arteta toggle between back-three build and aggressive press. Expect steady usage whenever control and coverage matter most.
- Ceiling this season: First-choice depth at LB/CM; late-season starter in certain matchups.
- Signature: Ball-carrying breaks from left-back into midfield lines; calm defensive body shape in isolation.
Liverpool and Manchester City
Rio Ngumoha
Liverpool’s 16-year-old tornado has already scored and assisted in preseason, and Diaz’s exit widens the lane for real minutes. He’s direct, fearless, and decisive in the first five touches of transitions—perfect for Slot’s vertical triggers.
- Ceiling this season: Second-wave winger minutes; starter in domestic cups.
- Signature: Inside-out dribbles from the left, early shots across the keeper.
Nico O’Reilly
A City academy creator reimagined as a left-back/underlapper by Guardiola, O’Reilly’s late-spring cameos showed timing and finishing. He’s behind a new first-choice signing, but he offers a different passing angle and penalty-box arrival from deep.
- Ceiling this season: Tactical sub who tilts low blocks; occasional starts to rest senior legs.
- Signature: Underlapping runs past the wide forward; cut-backs and late-box shots.
Tottenham
Mathys Tel
Spurs bought Tel to attack space, finish fast, and give their press a counterpunch after Son’s departure. Even with modest numbers last term, the trust (and fee) signal centrality alongside Solanke.
- Ceiling this season: Double-digit goal contributor across competitions.
- Signature: Diagonal sprints off the shoulder; near-post finishes; violent deceleration to beat markers.
Lucas Bergvall
His jump in involvement last spring previewed a metronome who can also break lines. Under Thomas Frank, Bergvall’s press-resistance and tempo control could anchor the midfield’s identity.
- Ceiling this season: Starting CM in big games.
- Signature: Half-turn escapes; third-man runs that punch into the box.
Archie Gray
Positionless in the best way. Gray was everywhere last year and still had more to give; his ability to plug gaps without losing intensity is how seasons stay on track through injuries and fixture crushes.
- Ceiling this season: 40+ appearances as Spurs’ system safety net.
- Signature: Recovery runs that turn counters into counters of their own; crisp switches of play.
Manchester United
Ayden Heaven
Left-footed, fast, and composed, Heaven profiles as a natural LCB in Amorim’s back three. The pathway is competitive, but his minutes last spring hinted at a defender who can change how United build and defend wide spaces.
- Ceiling this season: Rotational LCB who ends the year as a near-starter.
- Signature: Aggressive front-foot wins on the touchline; line-breaking passes through pressure.
Brighton
Harry Howell
Brighton’s youngest-ever Premier League player, praised by Fabian Hürzeler, Howell fits the club’s courage-over-seniority ethos. Expect curated minutes that grow if he carries his U‑21 dominance into senior transitions.
- Ceiling this season: Regular bench option with spot starts when Brighton push tempo.
- Signature: Back-post timing and quick one-twos to unhinge compact blocks.
Charalampos Kostoulas
A big fee for a teenager says everything about Brighton’s conviction. He arrives with senior goals and a profile that toggles between creator and finisher—right in Brighton’s wheelhouse of value creation.
- Ceiling this season: Rotational 10/second striker who spikes in specific matchups.
- Signature: First-touch angles that open the far side; disguised slips in the box.
Crystal Palace and Chelsea
Justin Devenny
From lower-league graft to first-team poise, Devenny’s Community Shield nerve and Palace cameos suggest a midfielder who relishes pressure moments. He adds rhythm and bravery between the lines—key for breaking mid-table stalemates.
- Ceiling this season: Late-game closer who keeps the ball and kills counters.
- Signature: One-touch circulation with surprise vertical pokes into zone 14.
Josh Acheampong
Maresca rates him, and with defensive injuries, his pathway across RB and RCB is real. Acheampong’s blend of pace, aggression, and tidy distribution can stabilize Chelsea’s rest defense in a hurry.
- Ceiling this season: 1,200+ minutes across league and cups.
- Signature: Insistent overlaps from RB; proactive step-outs at RCB to compress space.
A wild card to believe in
Josh King, Fulham
Not the veteran striker—the academy midfielder. King’s preseason involvement and last season’s minutes hint at growing trust from Marco Silva. If Fulham’s window stays quiet, his pathway to meaningful rotation is wide open.
- Ceiling this season: Reliable cup starter and league bench spark.
- Signature: Box-to-box sprints and late-arrival shots—energy that flips home draws into wins.
How they actually lead teams to glory
- Moments over minutes: The season swings on 10 actions—one pressed turnover, one fearless carry, one vertical pass. These kids don’t need 3,000 minutes to change a campaign; they need conviction when the match bends.
- Tactical elasticity: The most valuable youth profiles add options. Think Lewis‑Skelly flipping shapes mid-game, O’Reilly underlapping from “full-back,” or Gray covering three roles in one week.
- Pressure proofing: Devenny’s penalties, Ngumoha’s early punches, Tel’s ruthless sprints—watch who keeps their head when the game’s heartbeat races.
- Signals to watch:
- Selection: Early-season cup lineups and first bench names.
- Usage: Who closes games, not just who starts.
- Synergy: Which senior they pair with—Solanke for Tel, Saka for Nwaneri, Gvardiol/Akanji lanes for O’Reilly.
