U21 Euros Get Underway: All the Young Stars You Need to Watch
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U21 Euros Get Underway: All the Young Stars You Need to Watch

U21 Euros Get Underway: All the Young Stars You Need to Watch

The Under-21 European Championship group stage concluded yesterday, as 16 nations from across the continent were whittled down to a final eight. The quarter finals commence swiftly this weekend, and there are still plenty of young Premier League starlets to look out for across all of the remaining countries.

Football Park takes a look at 10 up-and-coming youth internationals from Europe, profiling each to give you an idea of what they have to offer for your club.

Alex Scott (21) - AFC Bournemouth & England

Guernsey-born Alex Scott has been an outstanding performer for Bournemouth since he made the step up from Bristol City two seasons ago. The midfielder lined up against Germany and Czechia in the group stage, scoring against Germany in a 2-1 defeat, and assisting the Three Lions’ final goal in a 3-1 win over Czechia. Churning out consistent performances in Eastern Europe.

Scott registered 6.2 progressive passes per 90 and 2.26 dribblers tackled per 90 in the Premier League this season. His quality is evident in his versatility, as he can play in a 10 role and as a deep-lying midfielder with ease. The statistics prove that he is progressive-minded and efficient in pressing systems, all whilst having exquisite passing ability. No doubt he will continue to thrive at Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth for years to come.

Mateo Joseph (21) - Leeds United & Spain

Leeds snapped up Joseph before he had played a minute of senior football in Spain. The forward made 10 appearances for England’s under-20 team in 2023 before switching to Spain, the country where he was born and grew up.

Joseph is yet to fully make an impact at Leeds, as 28 of his 39 Championship appearances in 2024/25 were from the bench, meaning he might be offered an exit away from Yorkshire this summer. However, his efforts and goal against Slovakia in the U21 Euros this month might have convinced the newly promoted club to give him a shot in the Premier League next season.

A striker who possesses a strong blend of physical and technical qualities, Joseph finds himself in good positions, allowing him to have 2.73 shots per 90 this season. That being said, he is not a finished product, and still finds himself dispossessed too often.

Michael Kayode (20) - Brentford & Italy

Michael Kayode made two substitute appearances before playing the full 90 in an important game against Spain on Tuesday night. The right-back is still an unknown quantity in England, only joining Brentford in January of this year. Although, Thomas Frank clearly rated him highly as the Italian appeared in most of the Bees’ matches in 2025, starting all of Brentford’s final six fixtures.

Handed the title of the ‘Best Italian U21 Player’ in 2024, Kayode has earned many plaudits. Spending a large period of his youth career at Juventus, the full-back bases his game on physicality and athleticism, making him great at recovery runs.

The U19 European Championship winner provides everything you could ask for as a right-sided defender, constantly making interceptions and trusted to join in with attacks in a similar fashion to his compatriot, Destiny Udogie. If he keeps his performance up next season under Brentford’s new manager, Italy’s future senior right-back could be right here in West London.

Brajan Gruda (21) - Brighton and Hove Albion & Germany

The first German to join Fabian Hurzeler on the South Coast, Gruda had limited Premier League minutes this season, but began to show his qualities by picking up a goal and three assists in the final five league fixtures. A frequent name at all youth levels of the German national team, Gruda has featured in two of his nation's games in Slovakia, and is one to watch ahead of a big season at the Seagulls.

Gruda averaged 5.11 shot-creating actions per 90 this season, and also carried the ball into penalty areas 69 times. He displays good trickery in attacking one-on-ones and rarely has a sloppy touch or pass, showing above-average vision, passing skills, and playmaking ability.

Wilson Odobert (20) - Tottenham Hotspur & France

Unfortunately, Wilson Odobert spent five months of his debut season in North London injured, not allowing us to see his true potential at Spurs. The young winger got regular game time either side of his setback though, and big things are expected of him heading into the 2025/26 season. Odobert has appeared in all of France’s games at the European Championship so far, linking up with fellow teammate Mathys Tel to help them to go undefeated in the group stage.

Able to play on the right or left-hand side, Odobert racked up 4.97 progressive carries per 90 in the Premier League last season, a real strength of his. Explosive acceleration and close control are features you can expect to see from the 20-year-old, who has shown ambition throughout his career. Leaving PSG’s academy for spells at Troyes and Burnley before the end of his teenage years.

Rodrigo Gomes (21) - Wolverhampton Wanderers & Portugal

There was no surprise that Wolves had two names in Portugal’s U21 squad this summer. Gomes was undoubtedly a high-potential signing for the future when he left Braga for the Molineux last summer. The winger has already been lighting up the pitch for a Portuguese side that thrashed Poland 5-0 and Georgia 4-0, scoring a goal in each of those games.

Gomes is a versatile player, with a history of playing at right wing-back and on both flanks. He has impressive stamina and a low centre of gravity, working brilliantly as a right midfielder in back-three formations. The Portuguese player does not have to rely on his physical abilities, as he has a great understanding of timing too. Expect to see more of him in the Premier League next year, especially with Nelson Semedo’s future questioned, and his performances in Slovakia this tournament.

Andres Garcia (22) - Aston Villa & Spain

Plucked from the second tier of Spain in January 2025, Andres Garcia appears to be an exciting prospect at Villa Park. The full-back played the full 90 against Italy on Tuesday night, notably on the opposite side to his favoured right-back spot, as Spain topped group A.

In his seven Premier League games for Villa since his arrival, Garcia has had a short passing completion rate of 92.7%, and has made 159 ball carries in the 351 minutes of action he has played. A constant provider of service into the box, Garcia also had more touches in the attacking third than any other area of the pitch, and will hopefully see more football at Villa Park next year.

William Osula (21) - Newcastle United & Denmark

Danish striker William Osula is still a raw talent, and we certainly have not seen the best of him in the Premier League so far. His two seasons in the top flight for Sheffield United and Newcastle United have led him to score just a single goal, but if his European Championship form is anything to go by, that might change soon.

Osula is averaging a goal contribution every 25 minutes at the tournament, with three goals and two assists, helping Denmark top their group. Able to play anywhere in a front three, he is unpredictable and difficult to mark. With a strong physical profile, Osula simply has to learn how to use it to his strengths, whilst also improving his confidence and technique in front of goal. However, his performances so far at the U21 Euros might be enough to convince Eddie Howe to give the forward more minutes.

Luca Koleosho (20) - Burnley & Italy

The Italian winger almost moved to the Premier League over the winter, but stuck it out and will now get a second shot at the top flight with Burnley. Luca Koleosho’s loyalty has been fought over by the USA, Canada, and Italy’s national teams, but he seems to have made his decision, starting two of Italy’s U21 Championship games this June.

A dynamic talent, Koleosho can make things happen out of nowhere, leading him to conjure up 3 shot creating actions per 90 in the 2024/25 EFL Championship. In his first two seasons at Turf Moor, he has averaged 4.2 recoveries per 90 too, and is a hard worker from a defensive point of view.

Ian Maatsen (23) - Aston Villa & Netherlands

The first player on this list to have earned a senior cap for their national team, Ronald Koeman handed Ian Maatsen his Dutch debut in March of this year. A premium option for an U21 tournament, Maatsen has already appeared in a Champions League final for Borussia Dortmund. Yet he will have been disappointed to earn just 10 Premier League starts under Unai Emery at Aston Villa this season. However, the full-back has become a fan favourite in Birmingham, set to become a vital cog in Villa’s Premier League and European ventures next season, with Luca Digne possibly leaving too.

Maatsen is a valuable asset when it comes to making overlapping runs, bombing forward when space opens up. He likes to make attempts on goal, ranking in the 95th percentile for shots on goal amongst fellow fullbacks. An overall ideal modern full-back wherever you look, whether that be his goal-creating actions, pace, or tackling. Maatsen is gradually becoming a renowned name in the footballing world, and has a bright future ahead.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
James McLeish

Writer

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