10 youngest players in Europe right now - November 2021

Who is the youngest player in Europe right now?
Who is the youngest player in Europe right now?

#7 Alvaro Bastida - 17 years, 4 months and 5 days

Bastida is the youngest player to feature for Cadiz (Photo: Twitter)
Bastida is the youngest player to feature for Cadiz (Photo: Twitter)

Alvaro Bastida is the second youngest player to feature in La Liga this season. The 17-year old has been with Cadiz since his youth days and has seen himself progress through the ranks at the Spanish club. Not a regular yet in the first team, the club are being patient with Bastida and giving him time to develop.

In the last two seasons the youngster has featured on a few occasions for both the Cadiz B team and the senior side. He made his La Liga debut in the last game of the 2020-21 season against Levante. So far this campaign, Bastida has made the bench regularly and has even earned two starts.

The midfielder likes to control the game with the ball at his feet and is a tidy passer of the ball. He has shown decent vision and good technique in the two games he has featured in. Bastida is not the fastest player or the most gifted aerially but these are aspects of the game he has plenty of time to work on.


#6 Gavi - 17 years and 24 days

Gavi will hugely benefit from Xavi's arrival at Barcelona
Gavi will hugely benefit from Xavi's arrival at Barcelona

Among the very few things that came out well from Ronald Koeman's Barcelona spell was La Masia graduate Pablo Martin Gavira, popularly known as Gavi. The former manager handed the youngster his first team debut in August and since then he has been gathering plaudits every time he has stepped out to play.

He is the fourth youngest player to play for Barcelona and has only gone and justified his promotion. The agile central midfielder has great reserves of stamina and works relentlessly on the field. He is an accomplished distributor and is very efficient in progressing the ball from deep in the midfield.

His perfectly weighted touch and great anticipation of the play has seen many compare him to former Barcelona legends Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Now that the former is at the helm as a manager, he can surely help forge Gavi into a superb midfielder.

Gavi earned rave reviews for his performances in the UEFA Nations League semi-final and final as he represented Spain. The La Masia graduate became the youngest Spanish international to play for La Roja. With absolutely no doubt, one can say greatness awaits Gavi.


#5 Iker Bravo - 16 years, 9 months and 25 days

Bravo was part of La Masia but has now moved to Leverkusen
Bravo was part of La Masia but has now moved to Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen have been lucky to bear the fruit of giving their young guns first team opportunities in the past. The likes of Kai Havertz and Florian Wirtz have both emerged as great future prospects for Germany and are highly valued in the market. Continuing on the trend, Leverkusen gave Iker Bravo the opportunity to become the third youngest player in Bundesliga history.

The Spaniard made his debut in a 1-1 draw against Hertha Berlin. He came on from the bench in the 79th minute. Bravo is a centre-forward who used to play for Barcelona's La Masia academy. Last season, the Spanish giants couldn't come to an agreement for a professional contract with their starlet.

Having joined the Bundesliga club, the young Spaniard has produced some dazzling performances for the U19 squad. It is widely regarded that Bravo has the makings of a top player and Barcelona let a very talented youngster slip through their ranks. Keep an eye on him!


#4 Luka Romero - 16 years, 9 months and 10 days

Romero came on against Spezia Calcio to make his Serie A debut
Romero came on against Spezia Calcio to make his Serie A debut

The only player from Italy's Serie A to feature on this list is Argentine wonderkid Luka Romero. Lazio have established an image of undertaking low-risk, high-reward transfers having previously recruited Lucas Leiva, Ciro Immobile, Francesco Acerbi and others. Romero belongs to the same breed and early glimpses of his talent have been impressive to say the least.

The Italian club signed him from La Liga side RCD Mallorca for only a premium training sum. Lazio had the oldest squad last season in Serie A and this is a positive step from a club looking to secure its future. In 2019-20, Romero etched his name in the history books by becoming the youngest player ever to play in La Liga. He did this at the age of 15 years and 219 days against Real Madrid.

The Argentine has drawn comparisons to the greats of the game like David Silva and Lionel Messi. The 16-year old is well known for his dribbling skills and can comfortably take on players in a one-on-one situation. The left-footed attacking midfielder has a lot of potential and it would be Lazio's responsibility to help nurture his raw talent.

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