TEN potential breakout stars in 2024/25

Every season, new names breakthrough and a number of young players will be hoping this is their season to truly announce themselves in the Premier League.

Last season, Cole Palmer, Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton starred for their respective clubs, Chelsea, Manchester United and Crystal Palace, highlighting the array of young talent in the Premier League and giving a glimpse into the exciting future of the next generation.

Here Adrian Kajumba looks at 10 prospects we could be hearing more about in 2024/25.

Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)  

Nwaneri’s place in the Premier League record books is assured. This could now be the season he becomes a more regular name on Arsenal’s teamsheet. Versatile midfielder Nwaneri - talked about as potential Arsenal’s best ever academy product - became the Premier League’s youngest ever player when handed his debut against Brentford in September 2022 aged 15 years and 181 days.

He had to wait until late on in Arsenal’s 6-0 win at West Ham United in February for his second league appearance. But more could be on the way after an eye-catching pre-season in which he was Arsenal’s most-used homegrown youngster.

Mikel Arteta suggested as much if  the 17-year-old seizes his chance, saying: “It’s always in the hands of the players, so show what you can do. Show that ambition, that determination, that quality, and things will happen naturally.”

Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Villa got an encouraging half-season glimpse of what Rogers is capable of during 2023/24. After joining in the January transfer window from Middlesbrough, Rogers, 22, developed and adapted to the Premier League quickly under Unai Emery, swiftly going from being a late option off the bench to regular starter.

Rogers showcased his effectiveness with a burst of three goals and one assist in five matches in the final month of his season. He finished 2023/24 with a goal contribution every 160 minutes in the league and has picked up where he left off with three strikes and an assist in his first two pre-season appearances for Villa.

Twenty goal contributions could well be within reach if he can translate his ability to make an impact over the course of a whole season.

Yankuba Minteh (Brighton)

Brighton & Hove Albion have freshened things up out wide this summer, with the stage set for Minteh - one of three wingers signed - to announce himself to the Premier League. Gambia international Minteh joined Newcastle United last summer but earned his move to Brighton off the back of an impressive season at Feyenoord.

The 20-year-old finished with 10 Eredivisie goals and six assists in a hugely productive spell in the Netherlands with Feyenoord, persuading Brighton to splash out a reported £30million to bring him to AMEX Stadium.

Minteh's goal v Kashima Antlers

As well as his goal threat, his direct dribbling is another major strength. Minteh had the most progressive carries into the area in the Eredivisie last season with 91 and has already displayed that attribute in Brighton’s 2024/25 pre-season matches. Minteh has the tools to get fans off their seats and emerge as a real crowd favourite at Brighton.

Tim Iroegbunam (Everton)

In all the business done between Villa and Everton this summer, Iroegbunam’s reported £9million move to Goodison Park is overshadowed by Amadou Onana’s in the opposite direction for a reported £50million.

But Everton’s purchase could prove to be a shrewd one. The 21-year-old has a nose for danger, is an effective ball winner and sensible passer with the physical qualities to get around the pitch, all attributes Everton will no doubt find valuable.

The potential of Iroegbunam, a winner with England in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2022, has long been evident though opportunities were hard to come by with more experienced competition ahead of him at Villa.

Moving to an Everton side with an Onana-shaped hole to fill, should give him the platform to show what he can do at the highest level on a more regular basis.

Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town)

There has been a buzz and expectation around skilful, left-footed winger Hutchinson for years, in part due to viral social media videos which emerged when he was in his early teens.

Now, via Charlton Athletic, Arsenal and Chelsea’s academies he will have the chance to show why in the Premier League at Ipswich. Hutchinson, 20, was a key factor in Ipswich’s fairytale promotion last season.

On loan from Chelsea, Hutchinson scored 10 goals and set up six, coming into his own when it really mattered towards the end of the season. Ipswich persuaded him to make the move to Portman Road permanently this summer and will hope last season was just an exciting taste of things to come.

Trey Nyoni (Liverpool)

New Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has preferred to assess what he has inherited rather than dive straight into the transfer market in the opening weeks of his Anfield reign.

In the absence of new signings, midfielder Nyoni is one player who has provided some food for thought. The 17 year-old, signed from Leicester City last summer, has been one of the plusses of Liverpool’s US tour, especially impressing against Real Betis and catching the eye with his maturity, skill and bravery in possession. 

Last season there was fleeting first-team involvement for Nyoni, who made his debut against Southampton, becoming the youngest player to feature in the FA Cup for the club aged 16 years and 243 days, after he shone for Liverpool’s academy sides.

He has done his chances of featuring much more during the campaign no harm in pre-season.

Toby Collyer  (Man Utd)

Collyer appears well-placed to be the next youngster to come through at United under Erik Ten Hag.

Just like Mainoo before him, following Man Utd’s 2023 EFL Cup triumph against Newcastle United, it was Collyer who was singled out for a mid-celebrations pep talk from Ten Hag after Man United’s FA Cup final win over Manchester City.

That was widely interpreted as an indication of how highly he is also thought of by the Dutchman. Collyer, 20, has also featured heavily in pre-season, even being handed the captain’s armband against Rosenborg.

Collyer is a central midfielder at ease in possession and with an impressive understanding of the role, particularly the defensive side, for a player yet to make a senior competitive appearance. That might not be the case for too much longer. 

James McAtee (Man City)

McAtee did well to stand out in a struggling Sheffield United side last season. Beyond his three goals and three assists, the 21-year-old produced the type of flashes of talent you would expect from a Man City-produced youngster.

Now back at Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola has spoken positively about the attacking midfielder’s prospects in the season ahead.

Guardiola said: “When you play in the Premier League in a team fighting to not be relegated (Sheffield United), you get something special… I am curious to see Macca especially. He’s a player I have a high, high opinion of, and I would like if he can insert properly with the team.”

Ronnie Edwards (Southampton)

Edwards has seemingly been a Premier League player-in-waiting for years since breaking into Peterborough's first team as a 17-year-old in 2020. An England youth international tipped to eventually make the senior side, 21-year-old Edwards finally got his move this summer to Southampton and it might prove to be a case of his patience paying off.

He has ended up joining a club where his chances of playing every week are genuine while being a ball-playing defender makes him a good fit for manager Russell Martin’s style. With Southampton, Edwards could well have plenty of opportunity to showcase his impressive defensive qualities too.

Mikey Moore (Spurs)

There is a genuine excitement about the crop of young players coming through at Spurs under Ange Postecoglou. Teenager Moore is among those attracting much of the attention.

In Spurs’ academy since the Under-9s, Moore has already progressed rapidly through their ranks to become their youngest ever Premier League player when he made his first-team debut against Man City in May aged 16 years and 277 days.

Moore's pre-season goal v Hearts

Spurs’ summer matches have seen more standout moments which underline why Moore is rated as a player who could go onto big things if all goes to plan with the 16-year-old, who has produced goals and assists in pre-season.

Postecoglou said: “He has earned his spot on the roster. All we can do is allow him to develop.”