The new Premier League campaign is about to begin, and there are a number of teenage talents who look ready to explode in England's top-flight
The new Premier League season is upon us, and there is so much to look forward to in 2025-26. From what promises to be a thrilling title tussle, to an open top-four race and likely nervous battle against relegation, there truly are storylines wherever you look this campaign.
One of the most engaging narratives in any Premier League season is the emergence of new stars; players who will be mainstays of the English top-flight for the next two decades who can mix it with the very best despite their lack of experience. This time last year, for example, very few fans outside of Arsenal had even heard of Myles Lewis-Skelly; by March, he was starting and scoring for England.
So who will be this season's answer to Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri or Nico O'Reilly? Using our NXGN knowledge of the very best teenagers in world football, we've laid out some of those players born in or after 2006 who have fewer than 500 Premier League minutes under their belt who you should be keeping an eye out for between now and May…
Getty Images SportZach Abbott (Nottingham Forest)
To say Zach Abbott was thrown in at the deep end for just his second senior appearance back in April would be an understatement, as the then-18-year-old was named in Nottingham Forest's line up for their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City. Despite having never played in the Premier League, Abbott was entrusted to fill in for the injured Ola Aina at right-back, and though Forest fell to defeat, the youngster did not disgrace himself.
That Abbott is naturally a centre-back should also be factored into how well he coped at Wembley that day, and there is excitement around the City Ground regarding the 19-year-old's future potential. Having signed a new contract in July, expect Abbott to finally make his top-flight bow in the coming months.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportHarrison Armstrong (Everton)
As David Moyes begins to rebuild Everton after guiding them to safety last season, he will be looking for homegrown talents to provide him with options alongside some exciting new signings. The academy player most likely to break into the first-team picture at the Hill Dickinson Stadium right now is midfielder Harrison Armstrong, who earned rave reviews while on loan in the Championship at Derby County last term.
The Rams are keen on taking Armstrong back on loan before the window closes, but after some decent showings in pre-season, Everton may look to fully integrate the 18-year-old into their first-team picture after he made his Premier League debut in August 2024.
Getty ImagesAdam Aznou (Everton)
Armstrong is not the only teenager looking to make their mark at Everton this season, with Adam Aznou having arrived on Merseyside following an £8 million ($10.7m) move from Bayern Munich. A product of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, where he played alongside and became great friends with Lamine Yamal, Aznou joined Bayern in 2022, but made just two senior appearances for the German giants.
The 19-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan in La Liga with Rayo Vallecano, and there is hope that the attack-minded left-back can provide Moyes' side with plenty of youthful energy and quality on the ball. As a three-time Morocco international, Aznou will certainly be keen to make his mark on the Premier League as quickly as possible.
Getty ImagesMax Dowman (Arsenal)
From Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe to Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, Arsenal's Hale End academy has been on a heater over the past five years or so. And yet, perhaps the best talent to have emerged in north London in recent times might only now be about to begin making his mark on the first team as Max Dowman prepares to finally make his highly-anticipated senior debut.
The 15-year-old likely would already have played for Mikel Arteta's side had Premier League rules not blocked him from doing so last term, but after an eye-catching pre-season that saw the midfielder likened to Lionel Messi in some quarters, Dowman is now free to begin contributing towards the Gunners' title pursuit.