Youngsters you didn’t know played for these teams
By Jim James
Youngsters. They’re the future, the stars of tomorrow. Born in years that continue to astound 50-something commentators every generation, we usually always associate these players with the teams they break out on, and think that they have always been on those teams, and sometimes they are right, like in the case of Phil Foden, who joined Man City’s youth academy at 9 and has never represented another team. However, most haven’t, and since the current generation has been worn out, like we all know that Aubameyang played for AC Milan, that Gerard Pique played for AC Milan, that Mauro Icardi played for Barca, we’re doing the next generation. There are some shockers in this list. I’m confident that at least 1 of these will astound you. It did for me. Oh, and we aren’t doing Jadon Sancho Man City because we all know that by now. Let’s go.
Ansu Fati – Sevilla
Age When Joined: 8
Age When Left: 10
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2012
Next Club: Barcelona
Gavi – Betis
Age When Joined: 10
Age When Left: 11
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2015
Next Club: Barcelona
Jamal Musiala – Chelsea
Age When Joined: 8
Age When Left: 16
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2019
Next Club: Bayern Munich
Jamal Musiala – Southampton
Age When Joined: 7
Age When Left: 8
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2011
Next Club: Chelsea
Joao Felix – Porto
Age When Joined: 9
Age When Left: 16
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2015
Next Club: Benfica
Moussa Diaby – PSG
Age When Joined: 14
Age When Left: 20
Sr. Apps: 25
Year Left: 2019
Next Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Florian Wirtz – FC Koln
Age When Joined: 7
Age When Left: 17
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2020
Next Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Youssoufa Moukoko – St. Pauli
Age When Joined: 10
Age When Left: 12
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2012
Next Club: Borussia Dortmund
Jadon Sancho – Watford
Age When Joined: 7
Age When Left: 15
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2015
Next Club: Man City
Victor Osimhen – Wolfsburg
Age When Joined: 19
Age When Left: 21
Sr. Apps: 14
Year Left: 2019
Next Club: Charleroi
Jurrien Timber – Feyenoord
Age When Joined: 7
Age When Left: 13
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2014
Next Club: Ajax
Bukayo Saka – Watford
Age When Joined: N.A.
Age When Left: 7
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2008
Next Club: Arsenal
Rafael Leao – Lille
Age When Joined: 19
Age When Left: 20
Sr. Apps: 24
Year Left: 2019
Next Club: AC Milan
Aurelien Tchouameni – Bordeaux
Age When Joined: 11
Age When Left: 20
Sr. Apps: 25
Year Left: 2020
Next Club: Monaco
Yeremi Pino – Las Palmas
Age When Joined: 12
Age When Left: 15
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2017
Next Club: Villarreal
Karim Adeyemi – Bayern Munich
Age When Joined: 8
Age When Left: 10
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2012
Next Club: Unterhaching
Edmond Tapsoba – Vitoria de Guimares
Age When Joined: 19
Age When Left: 21
Sr. Apps: 16
Year Left: 2020
Next Club: Leverkusen
Gio Reyna – NYCFC
Age When Joined: 13
Age When Left: 17
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2019
Next Club: Borussia Dortmund
Francisco Conceicao – Sporting
Age When Joined: 8
Age When Left: 14
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2017
Next Club: Padroense
Fabio Carvalho – Benfica
Age When Joined: 8
Age When Left: 11
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2013
Next Club: Balham (That’s not a typo)
Nico Williams – Osasuna
Age When Joined: 10
Age When Left: 11
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2013
Next Club: Bilbao
Mohamed-Ali Cho – PSG
Age When Joined: 7
Age When Left: 11
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2015
Next Club: Everton
Mohamed-Ali Cho – Everton
Age When Joined: 11
Age When Left: 17
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2020
Next Club: Angers
Anthony Elanga – Malmo
Age When Joined: 12
Age When Left: 12
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2014
Next Club: Hattersly
Noni Madueke – Spurs
Age When Joined: 12
Age When Left: 16
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2018
Next Club: PSV
Noni Madueke – Crystal Palace
Age When Joined: N.A.
Age When Left: 12
Sr. Apps: 0
Year Left: 2014
Next Club: Spurs
There we go, 26 instances. I hoped this article blew your mind, it certainly did for me researching it, and as always, I’m Jim James, until next time!