Football around Europe is in full swing and a number of young stars are rising to the fore. We cast our eyes over five of the brightest up-and-coming talents who look set to have a big impact in 2025.
Eliesse Ben Seghir
There's no doubting AS Monaco excitement-machine Eliesse Ben Seghir is one of the finest young attacking players in Europe right now.
Ben Seghir burst onto the scene in 2022 by making a scintillating debut for Les Monegasques under Philippe Clement, coming off the bench to bag a brace versus Auxerre, truly announcing himself on the big stage in tremendous fashion.
Moreover, his unforgettable exploits saw him become Monaco’s fifth youngest scorer (behind Kylian Mbappe, Pietro Pellegri, Thierry Henry and Benoit Badiashile) and their second youngest ever to score twice in one match (behind Thierry Henry).
Going on to end the 2022/2023 season with five goals and three assists from 23 appearances, it was nothing short of impressive how the man who joined the famed ASM academy at 16 had adapted so smoothly to the professional level.
“He has a good mentality, shows us that he is there to learn. Our role is to support him and put him in the best position so that he can show his talent at the highest level,” explained then-ASM defender Guillermo Maripan on Ben Seghir.
The teen playmaker was notably nominated for the best prospect award in Ligue 1 and the Golden Boy award, plus was elected best player of the Maurice-Revello Tournament to cap off a fruitful breakthrough year.
While injuries interrupted his progress last season and limited him to just 453 minutes of action, he's made up for lost time this campaign, starring for Adi Hutter's ambitious Monaco.
Already on seven goals and four assists this season, Ben Seghir has been a key driving force for his team both domestically and in the Champions League. Firmly establishing himself as one of the first names on Hutter's team sheet, he's been a joy to watch with his unique blend of technical wizardry, athleticism, and intelligence.
So difficult to stop on the dribble with his catalogue of tricks, Velcro-like ball control and first touch, and underrated strength, how he weaves his magic and constantly breathes life into attacks has been a huge positive for Les Rouge et Blanc.
Ben Seghir's ball progression and dribbling map - Wyscout Player Report
Blessed with a keen eye for goal and the finishing skills to match, this, in combination with his creative passing, crafty movement and capacity to play all across the frontline, duly elevates his menace.
Ben Seghir's shot map - Wyscout Player Report
A real game-changer who's capable of turning a match on its head in an instant with a moment of magic, opponents have found Ben Seghir a nightmare to contain when playing centrally or out wide.
Already a full senior international for Morocco and having also played at the Olympics, Hutter's been keen to stress the importance of managing his game time to avoid burnout.
Right on track to become a genuine star and going from strength to strength all the time, the sky's the limit for what he can achieve if he can fulfill his enormous potential.
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Highly-rated Arsenal wonderkid Myles Lewis-Skelly continues to make waves for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.
Stepping up with aplomb whenever called upon by Arteta, it's been remarkable how he's slotted in so seamlessly for the title-chasing Gunners.
Repaying the Spanish manager's faith in him exceptionally through his confident and accomplished displays, whilst handling the pressure and weight of expectation supremely, the phenom has filled in expertly at left-back, despite midfield being his preferred position.
Lewis-Skelly's ball recoveries map - Wyscout Player Report
Fearless, rising to the occasion with ease, and letting his football do all the talking, the young Gunner's ability to take everything in his stride has seen him rightfully draw wide praise .
"Young Myles again is just unbelievable; for 18 what he showed tonight is just ridiculous,” Declan Rice told TNT Sports after the derby triumph over Tottenham Hotspur.
“It’s scary. The 18-year-olds now have got no fear - no fear whatsoever. I think there were four or five times in the second half, he’s got that Mousa Dembele trait; he uses his body to get away from stuff. Sometimes, yeah, it’s risky, but to show that at 18, and the personality and character, honestly, it’s unbelievable.”
So effective at using his powerful frame and low centre of gravity, how Lewis-Skelly calmly protects the ball, rides challenges while keeping balanced, outmuscles foes and wins fouls when opponents get frustrated have also been major features of his game.
Relishing every chance he gets to carry the ball upfield and launch progressive line breaking passes and through balls into teammates, this enhances his worth.
Lewis-Skelly's passing and ball progression maps - Wyscout Player Report
Furthermore, the immense tactical flexibility and understanding Lewis-Skelly has shown has been vital when inverting into midfield comfortably, where he's been able to use his prowess in this zone wonderfully.
Destined to achieve great things and to have a long and successful career, the emergence of Lewis-Skelly has owed plenty to not just his quality, but also his formidable personality, mindset, and attitude. And with fellow Hale Ender Ethan Nwaneri also flourishing, the future looks bright for Arsenal.
Santiago Castro
Bologna's Argentine marksman Santiago Castro has proven a force to be reckoned with, his series of dominant performances attracting interest from the likes of Inter Milan, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Signed in January 2024 from Velez Sarsfield for Thiago Motta's classy Rossoblu outfit, who incredibly qualified for the Champions League, this gave Castro a nice introduction to Serie A and laid the foundations for him to flex his muscles this season under Vincenzo Italiano's tutelage.
Underlining emphatically why he's a man in demand, the 20-year-old's consistently upside-filled displays have been integral for Bologna. Adding crucial Champions League experience to supplement his 23 league outings, Castro's eight goals and seven assists have provided further evidence of his talent.
Castro's shot map - Wyscout Player Report
Leading the line staunchly with his strength, aggression, and street-smarts, he's held his own both when receiving with his back-to-goal, displaying elite hold-up play, as well as when astutely running in behind and into the box.
An instinctive and clinical finisher from a variety of locations, this element of his armoury has seen his good work often rewarded.
Acting as an outstanding target man and reference point for attacks, much positivity can be found in Castro’s aerial prowess too, with him serving as a top outlet to win second balls while also enhancing his side's set-piece threat.
Accompanying the above with his inventive passing and ability to generate chances, teammates have frequently benefited from his nifty passing, which is highlighted by his seven assists.
He has also dovetailed nicely with fellow young Argentinian Benjamin Dominguez - another fantastic pick up by Bologna’s recruitment team and a player who could have easily made this list too.
Castro's ball recoveries map - Wyscout Player Report
A fantastic defensive presence as well, seeing him press with intensity, hunt down adversaries with gusto and apply his interventions robustly, has certainly endeared him to his potential suitors.
Wasting little time in stamping his mark in Serie A and determined to keep working hard to improve, expect him to continue along his distinct upward trajectory on his path to stardom.
Orri Oskarsson
Icelandic striking sensation Orri Oskarsson made the big move to Real Sociedad from FC Copenhagen last summer. Knowing what a terrific and proven record of developing young players La Real have, joining the Basque giants was a very wise move indeed by the 20-year-old.
Standing at 185 cm, the physically imposing centre-forward caught the eye due to his dynamic showings in the Danish Superliga and in the Champions League, most notably against Manchester City, as he drew comparisons with superstar Erling Haaland.
A lethal finisher that parlays power, placement, and finesse, Oskarsson is also great at being in the right place at the right time and is a massive handful when given time and space to fire off shots.
Oskarsson's shot map - Wyscout Player Report
While he can be a touch clumsy with his back to goal and loose in his first touch, he's still exhibited how dangerous he can be with the ball at his feet to wriggle away from trouble and beat foes on the dribble.
Oskarsson is also a nuisance with shrewdly timed runs in behind and down the channels to stretch opposition backlines and drag them out of shape - a vital weapon in his locker.
Although the Iceland international hasn't hit the ground running yet, expect him to find his feet sooner rather than later in La Liga. He's just that good.
Paul Wanner
Bayern Munich's silky-skilled playmaker is shining brightly on loan at Heidenheim, as he's loving the chance to obtain regular Bundesliga minutes.
Having made his pro debut back in 2022 for Julian Nagelsmann's Bayern aged just 16 years and 15 days - becoming the youngest player in FCB history before going on to be their youngest Champions League debutant - Wanner's talent has been clear from very early on.
With competition for places so fierce at the Die Roten, being sent out on loan has been the logical choice to ensure he's been persistently exposed to the senior ranks. Producing the goods last term at SV Elversberg in the second tier, he's importantly carried on his momentum into his next venture at top-flight Heidenheim.
"Paul Wanner is continually developing, has played a lot at Elversberg, has scored goals and provided assists and is ready for the next level. The aim now is to permanently achieve the level of the first division. At Heidenheim he has every opportunity to take another big step, especially as the club is also represented internationally in the Conference League. We are very happy with the way he is going and will continue to support him closely," insisted Christoph Freund, FC Bayern's sporting director.
Blessed with a wand of a left foot to manufacture openings for himself and teammates with his dribbling genius and imaginative passing, it hasn't taken him long to become a pivotal figure going forward.
So aware and attentive to vacant spaces and when colleagues are free, there's been much to like about Wanner’s elite vision, game IQ and execution, in a season where he's wreaked havoc between the lines and in the half spaces especially.
Wanner's Bundesliga heat map this season
Always alive to weaknesses in opposition structures, Wanner has excelled in an array of scenarios, whether it be striking penetrative line-splitting passes, unleashing runners with measured through balls, switching the angle of attacks cleanly, or engaging in intricate link play in close quarters.
The languid number 10 has twisted and turned away from danger on the dribble slickly to beat or gain separation from markers too, which has enabled him to provoke trackers to free up others or be a threat himself.
Wanner's ball progression and dribbling maps - Wyscout Player Report
"He can hold the ball very well in tight spaces and then get out of them. He has a very good passing game, good vision and is already playing at a very high level. We've developed one or two players in the past. Maybe that's why we got him," said Heidenheim boss Frank Schmidt.
Coming on in leaps and bounds within Schmidt's framework while enjoying the opportunity to play in the Conference League, all eyes will be on how he fares in the second half of the season and then what the future holds for him looking ahead - be it at Bayern or elsewhere.
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