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#4 Hector Bellerin
Like another player who appears on this list a little later, Hector Bellerin’s career actually began in Spain, as part of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy. The Spanish full-back signed with La Blaugrana aged 8, but in 2011, at the age of 16, he moved to Arsenal and after working his way through their youth ranks, signed his first professional contract in 2012.
It was the early part of the 2013-14 season when Bellerin made his first-team debut for the Gunners, appearing in an EFL Cup match as a late substitute, but shortly after this, he was sent out to Watford on loan.
The Spaniard lasted just 8 matches at Vicarage Road before being recalled to the Emirates, but failed to make a further appearance before the season ended.
It was 2014-15 that saw him really burst onto the scene; the right-back became a regular starter for the Gunners and played 28 games across the season, including an impressive performance against Aston Villa in Arsenal’s FA Cup final victory. 2015-16 saw his star continue to rise, as he played in 36 of the Gunners’ 38 Premier League games and became the only player from the club to be named in the PFA’s Team of the Year.
In the years that have followed, Bellerin has continued to star at the Emirates, becoming a firm fan favourite in the process. His swashbuckling performances from right-back or right wing-back have marked him out, and he’s been involved in numerous memorable moments, including a stunning goal against Chelsea in the 2017-18 season.
Injuries – most notably an ACL tear in January 2019 – have since curtailed his development, but at the age of just 24, once he returns to full strength it’s likely that the Spaniard will continue to star for the Gunners for years to come – particularly under the watch of another former Barca product, new Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
