Newcastle target Hugo Ekitike is one of the best teenagers in the world – but just how good is the 19-year-old?
Planet Sport takes a look at the best young players in the world to see where they rank. Values provided by Transfermarkt.
10. Hugo Ekitike
Age: 19
Position: Forward
Club: Reims
Nationality: French
Assess: £25 million
Yes, Newcastle are on track to land the world’s 10th-best rated teenager player.
No teenager scored more than Ekitike in Europe’s top five leagues last season. The potential is clearly there and shows why Newcastle are willing to shell out almost £30m to secure his signature.
9. Giovanni Reina
Age: 19
Position: Midfielder
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Nationality: American
Assess: £31 million
The son of a former Manchester City star has made headlines this summer in the form of Erling Haaland, but his good friend Gio Reyna is one to watch.
They both sat watching their dads play for City and could we ever see Reyna again playing alongside the Norwegian but in Citizens’ Sky Blue? Don’t rule it out.
8. Yeremi Pino
Age: 19
Position: Winger
Club: Villarreal
Nationality: Spanish
Assess: £36 million
When Yeremy Pino took part in the 2021 Europa League final, he became the youngest player ever to play in a European final.
One of La Liga’s and Spain’s hottest prospects, he’s already been linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs – Villarreal will do well to keep him.
7. Eduardo Camavinga
Age: 19
Position: Midfielder
Club: real Madrid
Nationality: France
Assess: £50 million
The fact that Eduardo Camavinga is already at Real Madrid says a lot about the French star. Winner of the Champions League and still 19 years old, he seems the natural successor to Paul Pogba at international level.
6. Ansu Fati
Age: 19
Position: Forward
Club: Barcelona
Nationality: Spanish
Assess: £52 million
Yet another Spanish prospect, who is only 19 years old, he has been playing regularly at Camp Nou since he was 16 years old. The second-youngest player in the club’s history, he would have recorded far more than his 58 appearances for the Catalan giants if that hadn’t been the case. been for two long-term injuries.
5.Gavi
Age: 17
Position: Midfielder
Club: Barcelona
Nationality: Spanish
Assess: £54 million
Gavi is set to sign a new deal at Barcelona who realize they have something special on their hands. At 17, he’s by far the youngest in our top ten, but he’s arguably the most intriguing.
Already playing for Spain, he seems to have the world at his feet.
4. Jamal Musiala
Age: 19
Position: Midfielder
Club: Bayern Munich
Nationality: German
Assess: £58 million
Musiala spent a stellar 12 months at Bayern and finished last campaign with five goals and five assists in 30 Bundesliga appearances. Was at Chelsea academy until the age of 16 before opting for Bayern and as well as being the one to escape for the Blues he is also the one to escape for the England – choosing to represent Germany instead.
3. Florian Wirtz
Age: 19
Position: Winger
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Nationality: German
Assess: £63m
A sensational talent. Picked up from Cologne in 2020 for a negligible fee, he looks like one of the best deals in Bayer Leverkusen’s history. Already one of the most dynamic young players in world football, Wirtz has registered 19 goals and 22 assists in 78 appearances for Die Werkself.
2. Pedri
Age: 19
Position: Midfielder
Club: Barcelona
Nationality: Spanish
Assess: £72m
Alongside Gavi, it looks like Barcelona have found their new Xavi and Iniesta. Pedri is a generational talent and could dominate Spanish football for years to come. Has already won 12 caps for the national team.
1. Jude Bellingham
Age: 18
Position: Midfielder
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Nationality: English
Assess: £75m
There are no Premier League players in our top ten, but England are represented at the very top. We already know how good the former Birmingham City man is, with the 18-year-old already Borussia Dortmund’s go-to player.
Won 15 caps for England and looks set to play a starring role at the World Cup. Target for European stardom in 2023, it promises to be a big 12 months for the Stourbridge-born teenager.
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