Every Premier League team’s brightest young star – Part 1
By Jim James
Wonderkids are hard to come by, tens if not hundreds of millions of kids & teenagers across the globe wish to become a pro, and only a select 20 or so thousand ever do in a generation. Wonderkids are no exception, as in that 20 or so thousand only about 150 ever become labeled as wonderkids.
However, if you’re a big team, you’re bound to have one, with Barca it’s tossed around between Ansu Fati, Pedri, and Gavi, with Real Madrid you have Pipi, Eduardo Camavinga, Vinicius Jr, and Rodrygo, with Bayern you have Jamal Musiala, Dortmund has Erling Haaland, PSG has Xavi Simons, etc. Premier League teams also fall into this category, so in this list we will examine every Premier League team, and pick out their brightest young star under 18. (On July 1 2021)
Arsenal: Charlie Patino
The Englishman was born in Watford and started his days playing for Luton Town’s academy, but transferred to Arsenal in 2015 and has played 35 games for the U18s and U23s, with 8 goal contributions.
He is linked to FC Barcelona but it is hard to see him leaving Arsenal soon, as he is the crown jewel of their teenagers. Eligible for England & Spain, Patino has lined up for the English U16s and has been called up for the U17s as well. He is mostly used as a DM, but has been utilized as a LM, CM, and CAM as well. His passing is superb for his age and expect his position to change as his all-round ness means he will be Mr. Versatile for any manager that has him on their team.
Honorable Mentions: Catalin Cirjan, Joel Ideho, Omari Hutchinson, Brooke Norton-Cuffy
Aston Villa: Carney Chukwuemeka
The 17-year old turns 18 in October, but it still counts! Of all places Chukwuemeka was born in Austria and is eligible for them & Nigeria, but chooses to declare for England, having 2 caps for the U-19s.
He started in the Northampton Town youth academy, but transferred to Aston Villa’s in 2016, having 22 goal contributions in the Villa youth system, and has recently been called up to Aston Villa’s senior squad, having played a match in the Premier League, having started in Villa’s 1-1 draw vs Brentford. He Played 2 matches in the EFL Cup and 2 in the Premier League last season. He can blast by opponents with his scintillating speed, agility, and dribbling ability. The Englishman has been linked with a team that loves English speaking youngsters – Borussia Dortmund.
Honorable Mentions: Lamare Bogarde, Sil Swinkels, Aaron James Ramsey, Ajani Burchall
Brentford: Myles Peart-Harris
This is one where the July 1 2021 thing matters, as Myles Peart-Harris is 19, but close. He turned 19 last week, cut me some slack. He is a Brentford new boy, born in London, and raised through the Chelsea ranks before packing it up to move to Brentford in the past summer. He played 45 games for Chelsea’s youth teams and got 29 goal contributions, before moving to the Bees, where he has had 1 senior appearance, in the EFL Cup. Although he is utilised more as a CAM, Peart-Harris could become a Striker with his FInishing and speed combo. On April 10 2021, he scored a hat trick in a 7-0 pounding of Aston Villa U18, so Brentford, you have a gem on your hands here.
Honorable Mentions: Fin Stevens, Daniel Oyegoke, Tye Donaldson-Holness
Brighton: Antef Tsoungui
Antef Tsoungui is a Brighton prospect who was born in Brussels to Cameroonian & Italian parents, moved to Crawley as a kid, signed for the Chelsea youth academy soon afterward, and moved to the Brighton academy in 2018. His ability to head the ball could make him a Gerard Pique type player. Already an odd set of 4 nations to be linked with; Cameroon, Belgium, Italy, England. He is utilised as a center back, but can play anywhere in the back line, as well as be a DM. He has played 48 games in the Brighton system and has 3 goal contributions and 8 yellow cards to show.
Honorable Mentions: Zak Emmerson, Andrew Moran, Odel Offiah, Evan Ferguson
That will do it for my part 1, I hope you liked it! I will post the second part tomorrow, and see you then! Jim James signing off.