'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Premier League is home to many young talented players who are looking to make their mark in world football. But who are the best wonderkids that you should keep your eye out for?
It was a thrilling year for young English footballers after the Under-17 and Under-20 teams both won their age group World Cups. Our youth development is a major part of how success in clubs is built from small to big teams. But how many of our young players will make it into the Premier League first teams?
Here are 4 English footballers who I believe are the ones to watch this year and will certainly be first team starters next year.
1. Ryan Sessegnon
The promising winger joined Fulham in 2008, at the age of just eight. He has shown he is a star of the future considering the fact that the 18-year-old is already Fulham’s most important player.
He was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year and is the youngest ever player to be included in it and this year was given the awards of Championship Player of The Season and EFL Young Player Of The Season he has already won two accolades and he is only 18!
He has made 82 appearances for the Lilywhites and scored 23 goals and made 12 assists in the 17/18 season. The young forward is a versatile footballer and can play at left-back, left midfield and left wing.
Sessegnon is wanted by nearly every single big club throughout Europe and Tottenham will be gutted they missed the chance to sign him.
He is the first player from outside the Premier League to be nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award. He also made his England Under-21 debut this year.
Sessegnon is a wonderful talent and definitely a player who is likely to perform this year. He will be hoping he can show more of his talents on the big stage as Fulham have recently been promoted to top flight football again thanks to his help.
2. Reiss Nelson - Arsenal
Reiss Nelson joined the Arsenal academy when he was nine years old. He made his first senior appearance for Arsenal against Bayern Munich in an International Champions Cup match.
The 18-year-old made 11 appearances in the Premier League 2 league and scored 9 goals while providing 3 assists. That led him to be crowned the Premier League 2 Player of the Year. He has also made 16 appearances for the Arsenal first team, impressing fans with his skill and link up play.
Nelson has been touted to be one of Arsenal’s brightest talents. Hopefully, he will get opportunities to impress this year, either in the Europa League or a cup game. If he shows what he is capable of, he can then get the chance to do the same in the Premier League.
3. Ainsley Maitland Niles - Arsenal
Maitland-Niles is a product of Arsenal's Academy, having joined the club at the age of 6. He made his professional debut at the age of 17 against Galatasaray, but he truly burst on to the scene for Arsenal in the 17/18 season where he made 28 appearances for the first team.
Maitland-Niles impressed people with his calmness on the ball. Gary Lineker even said this in a tweet about him, “Really impressed by Maitland-Niles. Plays with an assured calmness and maturity that’s way beyond his 20 years.”
Maitland-Niles has played in various positions other than his normal position of centre midfield - left back, right back and wing-back - which shows that he is a versatile footballer. He also helped England win the U20 World Cup in South Korea.
Maitland-Niles should be a regular fixture in the first team next year, and he is undoubtedly is one to look out for.
4. Ademola Lookman - Everton
Lookman joined Charlton Athletics Academy in 2014. In his last season for Charlton, he made 25 appearances and scored 7 goals and provided 2 assists.
His performances managed to get him a transfer to Everton for a reported £7.5 million pounds, potentially rising to £11 million with add-ons. In his 24 appearances for Everton, he managed 3 goals.
Later on, Lookman was loaned to RB Leipzig where he made 11 appearances and scored 5 goals and provided 4 assists. He is also wanted back at RB Leipzig after a successful spell there, and could move back this season but on a permanent basis.
Given the fact Everton have a new manager in Marco Silva, I believe this year he will be at his best and we will see what he is truly capable of.
