European teenage 11

Metz v Paris Saint Germain - Ligue 1
Last season's breakout star.

Defence

Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Anfield's own.
Anfield's own

Other alternatives: Timothy Fosu-Mensah (Crystal Palace on loan from Manchester United), Felix Passlack (Hoffenheim on loan from Borussia Dortmund)

Age: 19

League appearances: 15

One of the most exciting prospects to come out from the famed Liverpool academy in the last few years, Trent Alexander-Arnold has caught the eye in his first full season as a senior player.

A prototype modern-day right-back, TAA contributes well in the attacking third and has turned heads with his crossing and ball-playing abilities. He packs a mean free kick as well, as made evident from his wonderful strike against Hoffenheim in the UEFA Champions League qualification stage.

An England U-21 international, TAA's rise to the top has been rapid and his performances have justified all the hype surrounding him in the English media. With Nathaniel Clyne not having played a single game this season, TAA took his opportunity well and has repaid Klopp's faith in him time and again.

TAA looks to be a fixture at right-back for Liverpool for years to come and will be giving good competition to the likes of Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier for the English National Team spot too in the years to come, if his initial showings are to go by.


Right Centre-back: Dayot Upamecano

FC Porto v RB Leipzig - UEFA Champions League
The man with a £100 million buyout clause.

Other alternatives: Malang Sarr (Nice), Panagiotis Retsos (Bayer Leverkusen)

Age: 19

League appearances: 60

You have to be really good if you're only 19 and you have teams in Europe considering the option of meeting your buyout clause of £100 million to lay their hands on you. Linked on multiple occasions to Liverpool and Manchester City, Dayot Upamecano is one of the most talented young defenders in the world at the moment.

RB Leipzig's rock at centre-back, Upamecano has been key to the rise of Leipzig to becoming one of the most exciting teams in Europe at the moment.

A French U-19 international, Upamecano was part of the team of the tournament at the 2015 U-17 Euros and was the best defender in the 2014 U-14 Aegean Cup for France.

Signed by RB Leipzig for around £10 million last year, Upamecano has been a regular in the Bundesliga this season and has been very impressive with his composed nature and his inch-perfect tackles.

Another prospect in the French roster of wonderkids, Upamecano is mature well beyond his age and his defending has been top notch. A vital part of RB Leipzig, who are known for playing hardball with their players, it won't be long before the big clubs come knocking for a defender of his potential.


Left Centre-back: Matthijs De Ligt (Ajax)

Youngest Dutch international in decades.
Youngest Dutch international in decades

Other alternatives: Reece Oxford (Borussia Monchengladbach on loan from West Ham), Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea)

Age: 18

League appearances: 47

Reportedly Barcelona's 'Chosen One', Matthijs De Ligt has been turning glances since he first made his debut for Ajax in September 2016. He is so highly rated that he received a Netherlands national team call-up just after he had made 2 league starts for Ajax in the Eredivisie.

A well-rounded centre-back, De Ligt is good with the ball and is a force in the air. Having also scored 4 times since his debut for Ajax, De Ligt is a good attacking option at set pieces.

Only 18, the Dutchman has built on his game over the past two seasons and has been an absolute revelation. A key part of Ajax's Europa League final run, De Ligt has no shortage of suitors, with Barcelona being particularly interested in the teenager.

His Netherlands debut showed us that he is not the finished product yet, making 2 errors that proved vital, but at only 18, if he continues his career progression the way he has till date, De Ligt could as well become one of Europe's elite centre-backs in the years to come and would look to emulate former center back partner Davinson Sanchez's upward career trajectory.


Left-back: Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)

One of the best teenagers in England.
One of the best teenagers in England

Other alternatives: Marc Cucurella (Barcelona B), Marcelo Saracchi (River Plate)

Age: 17

League appearances: 53

17-year-old Ryan Sessegnon has been nothing short of spectacular at Fulham. An attacking full-back, Sessegnon's performances have been reminiscent of a young Ashley Cole. One of the most intriguing prospects in the Championship, Sessegnon has 19 England U-19 appearances to his name too.

Fulham didn't let their prized asset travel to India for the U-17 World Cup in 2017, an event in which Ryan's twin brother, Steven (also of Fulham) took part in.

In November 2017, Ryan marked his 50th senior appearance for Fulham by scoring a hat-trick against Sheffield United, becoming the first seventeen-year-old to score a hat-trick in the top four tiers of English league football since Dele Alli achieved the feat in 2014.

Sessegnon is Fulham's top goal scorer this season and has been a constant threat along the flank. Having been linked with almost all the Premier League giants over the past one year, if Fulham fails to gain promotion to the Premier League, it looks highly likely that one of the Top 6 will make the swoop for him.

Another English prospect climbing up the ranks, if Sessegnon's early progress is to go by, he definitely looks set for big things in the future.

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