The Best Young Players To Watch At Euro 2024
Euro 2024 kicks off this June and the wealth of young talent on show could make this summer’s tournament the most exciting in years. England fans are pinning their hopes on Jude Bellingham outperforming his peers and delivering a trophy for the Three Lions – but there are plenty more burgeoning superstars to watch out for too.
The Young Player of the Tournament award is open to all players aged 22 and under. That leaves scope for a lot of kids to make their mark on the international stage.
Below, we look at the nine players most likely to be named Young Player of the Tournament, and why they’re worth watching this summer.
Euro 2024: Top Young Players
Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham is already a household name. The Real Madrid star is guaranteed to be in the England XI this summer and at 20 has already become one of the most exciting players in La Liga.
Bellingham is scoring for fun in Spain but it’s his cool head and smart tactical awareness that sets him apart from others his age. England play under an intense amount of scrutiny at major finals and Bellingham is prepared for it.
He’s an exciting, forward-focused player who can also do the defensive duties when required. It’s the likes of Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice who can catapult England to glory.
Jude Bellingham Stats
International caps: 29
Clubs: Birmingham City, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid
Career highlight: Kopa Trophy 2023 winner, Champions League 23/24 winner
Shop window?: Bellingham is not in the shop window. The only way is down once you’re at Real Madrid and the only thing a successful Euro 2024 campaign will earn him is bargaining power for an improved contract at the Bernabeu.
Benjamin Sesko
Slovenia have a real talent in Benjamin Sesko and England will have to be wary of the Slovenia forward in the group stage this summer. Sesko, 20, dazzled in his early years at Red Bull Salzburg before earning a move to RB Leipzig last summer.
Sesko is a deadly finisher and has the strength to handle himself against international-class defenders. You’ll often hear him talked about as Slovenia’s answer to Erling Haaland. While he’s not at that level yet, he will capture the spotlight when Slovenia play.
Benjamin Sesko Stats:
International caps: 28
Clubs: Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig
Career highlight: Scoring five goals in Euro 2024 qualifying to catapult Slovenia to the tournament.
Shop window?: Sesko is already at a big club but there will be Premier League scouts watching. Arsenal and Chelsea are supposedly interested and the 20-year-old is valued at around £50m.
Johan Bakayoko
Johan Bakayoko is flying under the radar heading into Euro 2024. The Belgian has thrived at PSV and has helped them to the Eredivisie title this season. PSV usually sell their top talents once they’ve delivered trophies and Bakayoko has plenty of admirers.
The pacey winger was an unused substitute in the March friendly against England but is steadily picking up caps. At 21 this is his summer to shine and secure a career-defining move to a major club.
He is still on the brink of stardom and will have to fight for a place in the Belgium XI.
Johan Bakayoko Stats
International caps: 10
Clubs: Jong PSV, PSV
Career highlight: Winning the 2023/24 Eredivisie with PSV.
Shop window?: Bakayoko is definitely in the shop window this summer. A good tournament here and he could secure a move to the Premier League or Bundesliga.
Arda Guler
Turkey finally have a replacement for retired regular goalscorer Burak Yilmaz in playmaker Arda Guler, and he could make a major impact at Euro 2024 following an injury-hit first season at Real Madrid. Guler joined Real last year after two seasons in Fenerbahce’s first team.
He has an outstanding turn of pace and great positional awareness for a 19-year-old. Carlo Ancelotti wants him to stay at the Bernabeu despite rumours of a loan move in the summer.
Physically, he looks like a teenager playing men’s football. Yet given time he could become a superstar of the game. Turkey will rely on his talent to unlock Czechia, Georgia and Portugal in the group stage. They could even top Group F.
Arda Guler Stats
International caps: 6
Clubs: Fenerbahce, Real Madrid
Career highlight: Scoring in a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad in La Liga.
Shop window?: Like Bellingham, Guler isn’t expected to leave Real Madrid on a permanent basis any time soon. He could, though, be a loan target this summer if Ancelotti decides he isn’t quite ready for regular games at the top of La Liga. An impressive Euros would help his cause.
Florian Wirtz
At 20, Florian Wirtz is already a Bundesliga champion and regular starter for Germany. The Germans have played a string of friendlies recently as they didn’t have to qualify for this summer’s Euros, meaning Wirtz has had time to bed into Julian Nagelsmann’s system without much pressure on his shoulders.
At club level he has upped his scoring rate this spring to fire Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title. But it’s his ability to pick the lock and find a team-mate free in the box that has caused heads to turn.
His number of Bundesliga assists pushed into double figures this season and he’s a selfless player when on the ball. Germany haven’t had much international success recently but Wirtz could be the man to change all that.
Florian Wirtz Stats
International caps: 16
Clubs: Bayer Leverkusen
Career highlight: Winning the domestic double with Leverkusen in 2023/24.
Shop window?: Leverkusen have Wirtz on contract until 2027 so suitors will have to pay big money to force him out of the club. A successful summer could raise his transfer value above £80m and mean only the top Spanish sides, PSG, or Premier League clubs could afford him.
Xavi Simons
The Netherlands can usually be relied upon to deliver an exciting young talent at a summer tournament and Xavi Simons is the man this time. The 20-year-old has already done the rounds in Europe. Trained at La Masia, he joined PSG as a youth in 2019 before moving to PSV in 2022. That transfer came with a €6m buy-back clause that PSG triggered a year later.
They immediately farmed him out to RB Leipzig where the Dutch youngster has flourished this season. Three goals in his first four Bundesliga appearances set the pace for an outstanding season.
The playmaker is electric on the ball and can find the target from anywhere in the opponents’ half. He made his Netherlands debut at the 2022 World Cup and is pushing for a place in the XI this summer.
Xavi Simons Stats
International caps: 13
Clubs: PSG, PSV, RB Leipzig
Career highlight: Making his Netherlands and World Cup debut in a last-16 match with USA in 2022.
Shop window?: PSG are aware of Simons’ talent and won’t let him go easily. Another loan move is more likely this summer but he could prove useful if the French club cannot find a suitable alternative to the departing Kylian Mbappe. He isn’t a like-for-like replacement though, so a loan is viable.
Arthur Vermeeren
Another Belgian on our list, 19-year-old Arthur Vermeeren is not guaranteed to make the final squad for Euro 2024. However, his potential is such that we reckon he’s worth including in our list. Vermeeren won the league with Royal Antwerp last season before securing an €18m switch to Atletico Madrid in January this year.
The midfielder is yet to make an impact in Spain but is part of the Belgium set-up. He is a defensive midfielder with the maturity to sit back when required, and then bomb forward. Similar to Declan Rice, it’s his presence that a manager can build a team around.
Vermeeren has competition with Orel Mangala for the anchor role in Belgium’s midfield. Keep his head down, work hard and he could shine this summer.
Arthur Vermeeren Stats
International caps: 3
Clubs: Royal Antwerp, Atletico Madrid
Career highlight: Winning the 2022/23 Belgian Pro League title with Royal Antwerp
Shop window?: Vermeeren has only just joined Atletico Madrid so there is little chance of him making a permanent move elsewhere this year. However, he could be loaned out if Diego Simeone decides he needs more experience before commanding a midfield at the top of La Liga.
Lamine Yamal
At 16, Lamine Yamal is already Barcelona's youngest ever player to start a game and youngest ever goalscorer. The winger possesses the Messi-like ability to evade multiple challenges while slaloming through defenders.
Yamal scored on his Spain debut last autumn and has picked up a handful of goals for Barca too. He’s gone from being a substitute to a regular starter.
Gavi being injured this summer means Spain’s right flank is Yamal’s for keeps. He will help drive the team forward and provide the goal threat that Spain have somehow lacked in recent tournaments.
Lamine Yamal Stats
International caps: 6
Clubs: Barcelona
Career highlight: Scoring on his Spain debut as a 16-year-old against Georgia.
Shop window?: Yamal would be on the scouting list of every top club in the world were he not already at Barcelona. His contract runs to 2026 and he is expected to sign an improved deal once he turns 18 next year. No-one will be able to afford the price Barca would set for such a hot prospect.
For all betting markets related to the European Championship, check out our dedicated Euro's hub.
