10 Premier League wonderkids who are poised for huge things in 2024
There are plenty of big football stories on the horizon in 2024, at domestic and international level, and a number of wonderkids will be desperate to play a part.
Premier League teams at both ends of the table will be pushing for results, with European qualification and top-flight survival both on the line. There is also plenty to play for at international level, from the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup at the start of the year to the European Championships over the summer.
We've seen managers put faith in young talent already this season, and the pattern may well continue over the coming months. Here, Mirror Football picks out 10 players aged 21 or under who could have a big 12 months ahead of them.
They won't be the only ones looking to impress, of course. However, despite big spending across the league, we've seen there's still a chance for youngsters to thrive in the top tier of English football.
Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo's impact since his return from injury has been a rare recent bright spark during a difficult season for Manchester United. If 2023 was a breakout season for team-mate Alejandro Garnacho, 2024 could be the year of Mainoo.
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United boss Erik ten Hag added Sofyan Amrabat to his team's ranks over the summer as they looked for solidity in central midfield. Some might say it reflects badly on the Moroccan that he has fallen behind a teenager in the pecking order, but others would say it's a sign of Mainoo's quality.
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Kobbie Mainoo has impressed for Manchester United this season (ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)With another central midfielder, Casemiro, linked with an exit, it could be the case that United return to the tradition of relying on their academy for ready-made stars. And there are many fans who would have no problem with that if every newcomer is as good as this 18-year-old.
Noni Madueke
With Chelsea's push for youth over the last two transfer windows, there are many contenders for the Blues' most important wonderkid. Cole Palmer has already shown his quality after joining over the summer, but his fellow 21-year-old Madueke is starting to do the same.
Since seeing manager Mauricio Pochettino react to footage of him on a night out, Madueke has been forced to prove himself to the boss. It has been a long road back to regular first-team action for the winger, but he has seized his opportunity of late with goals against Crystal Palace and Luton.
Over the summer, the former PSV starlet said a loan exit would be "impossible" as he looked to prove himself to Pochettino. Having started to do so before the turn of the year, 2024 could be even bigger.
Lewis Miley
When Lewis Miley was withdrawn from the England under-17 squad late last season, Newcastle made it clear he was part of their plans in the league. The midfielder was just 17 when he made his Premier League debut in May, but the new season has seen him go from strength to strength.
Lewis Miley has played his part domestically and in Europe (Dave Winter/REX/Shutterstock)It wasn't until November that the teenager made his first appearance of the season, against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. However, injuries and suspensions have opened the door and he has richly deserved his run of league outings - as well as a 90-minute runout in what was nearly a memorably victory away to Paris Saint-Germain.
With Sandro Tonali suspended for the rest of the campaign, Miley ought to remain a key part of Eddie Howe's squad. And so far, he's shown there should be no questions over whether or not he belongs.
Destiny Udogie
Udogie's fast start at Spurs might well have left some people forgetting he's still just 21 years old. The left-back is still yet to rack up 100 senior club appearances - not that you'd notice it from watching his displays in north London.
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Ange Postecoglou's team have recovered from a blip to remain very much in European contention. The squad is still a relatively young one, full of new faces, and the Italy international can expect to continue playing a big part after impressing since completing a season on loan back at former club Udinese.
Speaking of international football, Udogie earned his first senior Azzurri call-up in October. The defending European champions have a tough group in Germany at Euro 2024, with matches to come against Spain, Croatia and Albania, but Udogie could yet cap a breakout Premier League campaign with a memorable summer.
Harvey Elliott
Elliott is another who might appear older than he is after being on the radar of fans for years. The Liverpool midfielder is still just 20, but was barely 16 when he became the Premier League's youngest ever player in 2019, a record which has since been taken by Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri.
Harvey Elliott scored a valuable winner for Liverpool at Crystal Palace (ASHLEY WESTERN/Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock)A serious injury in the 2021-22 season saw Elliott's progress stall, but Liverpool made sure not to rush him back after that setback. He hasn't missed a minute in the Europa League this season, but competition for places in the league have forced him to work hard for game time before scoring a valuable late winner at Crystal Palace in early December.
"I can't be happy with just getting one goal and that is it. I need to keep going for myself and the team," Elliott said after that effort at Selhurst Park. A big 2024 would be just what the doctor ordered.
Oscar Bobb
Another 20-year-old, Bobb has - like team-mate Phil Foden - waited patiently for a chance at Manchester City. Foden's lack of minutes as a teenager now feels like a distant memory, and Bobb will want to follow his colleague's path.
The Norwegian had a big part to play in Saturday's victory over Sheffield United, threading through a pass for Foden to lay on Julian Alvarez's clincher. That won't go down as an assist for Bobb, though he did register one earlier in the season against Bournemouth.
Bobb scored his first Norway goal in November, and added his first for City against Red Star Belgrade the following month. If City are to add more silverware after their 2023 Treble, everyone will need to play their part, and he's already shown what he can offer.
Facundo Buonanotte
Before joining Brighton, Buonanotte made a real impression on former Premier League champion Carlos Tevez. The Argentine youngster played under Tevez at Rosario Central, scoring his first winner for the club at 17, before moving to England a few months later.
Facundo Buonanotte scored two Premier League goals in 2023 (DANIEL HAMBURY/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)The winger celebrated his 19th birthday just before Christmas 2023, celebrating a few days later with a start as Brighton demolished Spurs in the Premier League. He scored his second Premier League goal in December, netting against Chelsea.
The goal was also his first as a full Argentina international following his debut over the summer. With fellow wide men Simon Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma away on international duty in January, he has the chance to follow an impressive 2023 with a fast start to the new calendar year.
Jhon Duran
The form of Ollie Watkins has meant it was always going to be tough for Jhon Duran to pick up minutes, but he has been the master of seizing brief opportunities. No wonder Aston Villa were happy to offload Danny Ings last January while fast-tracking the Colombian's path to the first team.
A fee of around £15m was not insignificant for a teenager who at the time had never even played in Europe. However, the former Chicago Fire man has already shown his class.
Duran's first Premier League goal against Everton saw him showcase his pace and awareness, while his second - against Crystal Palace - demonstrated the devastating shot he has in his arsenal. He's also netted twice in Europe, and there could be a great deal more to come as Unai Emery's team go in search of Europa Conference League glory.
Matheus Franca
In late October, Franca was one of a handful of Crystal Palace subs criticised by manager Roy Hodgson after failing to make an impact from the bench against Spurs. The Brazilian's impact from the bench away as Manchester City told a different story, though, as he helped unsettle the champions in a come-from-behind draw.
Matheus Franca made an important cameo for Crystal Palace at Manchester City (David Blunsden/Action Plus/REX/Shutterstock)“The ones that came on in the end, in particular Franca… he had a very good cameo," Hodgson said after the game. "I've been expecting that. I've said to him on many occasions 'when you get your chance 'you'll be okay'."
Franca was an expensive recruit when he joined over the summer, but it's important to remember he's still just 19 years old. An injury-hit start to the season has only allowed him 45 minutes of Premier League action so far, but a new year could bring new opportunities.
Milos Kerkez
Another 19-year-old, Kerkez joined Bournemouth from AZ Alkmaar after a breakout season for the Dutch side last term. The Hungarian left-back was a breakout star in AZ's run to last season's Europa Conference League semi-finals, and he's slotted straight into Andoni Iraola's side this term.
The youngster picked up his first assist against Aston Villa in early December, and had a big part to play in crucial away wins at Crystal Palace and Manchester United. An injury sustained in training has kept him out of action since then, but he has already shown his value.
Kerkez has often played further forward for his country, and didn't taste defeat for Hungary in 2023 as he helped his country reach the Euros. After being drawn with Germany, Scotland and Switzerland, Marco Rossi's side will want to improve on the group stage they suffered at Euro 2020.
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