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The FIFA U-17 World Cup is set to grace India this October and fans of the beautiful game will witness some of the brightest starlets in world football at the global event. U-17 World Cups have been stepping stones to greatness for some of the world's best footballers like Ronaldinho and Luis Figo, who went on to win the Ballon d'Or after announcing themselves at the 1997 and 1989 U-17 World Cups respectively.
Like Figo, Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon also started out at the U-17 World Cup in 1993, and both the Portuguese and the Italian have played big roles in the evolution of football's transfer market into a multi-billion dollar industry. Figo held the record of the most expensive player when he moved to Real Madrid in 2000, while Buffon held the most expensive goalkeeper record for 16 years before it was broken this year.
All of that suggests that the FIFA U-17 World Cup is not just any other tournament. It is one that shapes the future course of a player's career and this year's edition will be no different. With money flowing in and out like never before in the world of football, young, teenage prospects aren't spared from the spinning wheel of football transfers.
Here are the five hot prospects to play at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India who have made big-money transfers this summer.
#1 Jadon Sancho - Manchester City to Borussia Dortmund for €7 million
While €7 million is not a big-money move by any stretch of the imagination if you consider the exorbitant sums bandied about these days, but it is quite a lot for someone who hasn't even played a single senior match. Sancho, however, is one of England's top prospects and given the way Manchester City work - buying superstars instead of promoting youth - the 16-year-old's decision to head to Germany and Borussia Dortmund is commendable.
With the youth-oriented Peter Bosz at the helm at the German Cup winners, Sancho has a greater chance of fulfilling his potential at die Schwarzgelben than under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Indian football fans, especially those in Kolkata, will be able to witness Sancho from close quarters when England U-17s start their campaign against Chile on 8th October.
#2 Aminu Mohammed - WAFA to Manchester City for €2.17 million
The Ghanaian striker will be one of his team's key players when they take on India, USA and Colombia in the group stage, and he received a shot in the arm recently when Manchester City roped him in for their Academy by paying a €2.17 million fee to the WAFA Academy. Mohammed had been courted by the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but City were impressed by the youngster during his trials and sealed the deal.
Having earned comparisons with Neymar, Mohammed will be a big thorn in hosts India's chances of progressing past the group stage and will be one of the players to watch at the U-17 World Cup later this year. The Black Starlets' chances at the World Cup hinges mostly on Mohammed's goals and hence his high demand in the market.
#3 Eric Garcia - Barcelona to Manchester City for €1.70 million
Garcia is the latest young Spanish star to sign for Guardiola's Manchester City after the 16-year-old made the switch from Barcelona at the start of the transfer window this summer. City, who have state-of-the-art training facilities, have invested heavily in youth over the last few years, and it is players like Garcia whose development will be a measure of the success of City's youth project.
Indian football fans, especially in Kochi, will be able to witness this centre-back from close quarters when Spain start their U-17 World Cup campaign against Brazil on 7th October.
#4 Lewis Gibson - Newcastle United to Everton for €1.10 million, rising to ove €6 million
England U-17s' centre-back Lewis Gibson is one of the hottest prospects in the Premier League and sealed his multi-million pound move to Everton earlier this summer from Newcastle United. Everton are well-known for promoting youth - the likes of Wayne Rooney and Ross Barkley are prime examples - and Gibson could be another set to make his mark in the Premier League in the near future.
Alongside Sancho, Gibson is expected to be part of the England squad for the forthcoming U-17 World Cup and Indian football fans will be one of the first judges of the player's potential and ability come October.
#5 Jann-Fiete Arp - Hamburg U17s to Hamburg U19s
The 17-year-old hasn't been involved in a transfer but his move from Hamburg U17s to Hamburg U19s team earlier this summer suggests that big things are expected from the young poacher, who has been likened to Miroslav Klose. Fiete Arp will be part of the Germany U-17s at the FIFA U-17 World Cup later this year and be key in his team's chances of a successful finish.
Germany will play their group stage matches in Margao and Kochi, and Indian football fans have a big chance to witness the first steps of a future goalscoring great this October.
