7 most exciting U21 prospects in the Premier League

Phil Foden
Phil Foden

#2 Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea, 19 years)

Hudson-Odoi is the brightest young talent in the Chelsea camp
Hudson-Odoi is the brightest young talent in the Chelsea camp

Having spent his entire youth developing at the age group teams of Chelsea since the age of 7, Callum Hudson-Odoi was always primed for success when he was first selected for the Chelsea U-23 at just sixteen.

Hudson-Odoi made his senior debut for Chelsea on 28th January, 2018, aged just 17. He has since gone on to make 52 more appearances, and has become a very relevant player off the bench. He has already scored 8 times, 3 of them this season.

Fast, direct, agile, diminutive, deceptively quick, and an effective dribbler, Hudson-Odoi has the ability to torment any defence in the world because of his explosiveness. He was a pivotal figure in Chelsea's triumphant Europa League campaign in the 2018-19 season, scoring 4 goals.

He has already earned 3 caps for the England national team.

Following Eden Hazard's transfer to Real Madrid, he has seen more opportunities come his way, and he is surely the crown prince of the young squad that Frank Lampard is constructing at Stamford Bridge for the future.


#1 Phil Foden (Manchester City, 19 years)

Phil Foden is Guardiola's gem
Phil Foden is Guardiola's gem

With doubts surrounding his physicality and whether he can survive in a league as demanding as the Premier League, Phil Foden has more often than not shown that he is a tough nut.

Guardiola has always played faith in him and also stated that he is the most talented player he has ever managed, quite a feat for Foden since Pep has worked with the likes of Messi, Iniesta, Ribery, Mueller, to name a few, during his time at previous clubs.

Being described by Guardiola as a central midfielder, he can also play as a winger on the right and can use his preferred left-foot to cut in and shoot at goal. Operating as an out and out 10 is another part of his versatility.

What makes Phil Foden such a great talent is his unprecedented tenacity. He works hard both on and off the ball, and he is already compared to his fellow Manchester City teammate David Silva. He uses his low centre of gravity to exploit half-spaces and slalom past defenders, and is a very efficient ball-carrier, gradually developing an eye for goal.

Foden has made 23 apperances so far, scoring 3 goals and assisting 6 times. Having played a total of only 900 minutes, the fact that he is directly involved in a goal every 100 minutes represents all his credentials.

His attitude has been the key to him making rapid strides and consolidating a place in Guardiola's plans. At 19 years of age, he still has a lot to learn, but the amount of talent he already boasts is scary, and it would be safe to say that he is arguably the best young talent of Premier League.

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