Who will be the new Kobbie Mainoo in the 2024-25 footballing season? Who will break out and become the new football stars on everyone’s lips? We take a closer look at the next generation of talents set to make their breakthrough in the topflight this season. Here we have hand-picked 8 potential breakthrough talents for 2024-2025 season that could make it into the club’s first team this year.
As the 2024/2025 season is fast approaching, the excitement is palpable among fans and pundits alike. After a hectic summer with both the UEFA European Championship, Copa America and Euro Under-19 Championship behind us, the expectations for the new football season are rising along with the summer transfer rumours and ‘Here we go!’ alerts by Fabrizio Romano are ticking in.
For us Football Manager enthusiast, there’s no greater feeling than seeing a young player make it into the club’s first team after years of being touted as a Football Manager wonderkid. In an ever-evolving footballing landscape, each new season brings with it the promise of fresh talents ready to make their mark on the global stage, and this year is no different!
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Ahead of the 2024-25 season, it’s time to take a closer look at the next generation of players – those young talents who possesses the abilities, potential and skills to become the next superstars of football Europe.
These emerging talents have already begun to attract attention through their performances in the club’s youth academies or are on the brink of getting promoted to the club’s first team and could potentially receive their breakthrough season if trusted with first team football due to their performances for the club’s youth sides.
Like Kobbie Mainoo who went from playing for Manchester United’s U18 team to receiving 24 appearances in the Premier League 23/24, whilst also being one of the standout performers for the English National team in the Euro’s 2024, the 23-24 season saw several exciting talents establish themselves in the first team. Finally, we could watch Arda Güler shine on the biggest stage or experience Ajax’s rock-solid wonderkid defender Jorrel Hato establish himself in the Eredivisie. These were not the only ones!
Editor’s Pick
- Potential FM25 Wonderkids & Talents
- Football Manager 2024 NextGen Wonderkids Database – Your Source to FM25 Wonderkids
- Football Manager 2024-25 League Update Database feat. Promotions & Relegations
- Football Manager 2024-25 Real Names Fix
- Best Football Manager 2024 Wonderkids
- FM24 Scouting Guide: How to scout for the best wonderkids & newgens
Now the question remains, who will be the new young players set for a breakout season and become labelled as world-class stars as the year 2025 is coming to an end?
Join us as we spotlight the potential breakout stars ahead of the 2024-2025 season! Here are 9 of the Football Manager 2025 Best Young Players to watch that are destined for greatness the coming year!
9 Football Manager 2025 Best Young Players To Break Out in 2024-2025 Season
Konstantinos Karetsas / 16 / KRC Genk
Born in November 2007, Konstantinos Karetsas was one of the many talents that was too young to be included in Football Manager 2024. Instead, you’ll be able to experience Konstantinos Karetsas on FM24 by downloading our NextGen Wonderkids Database.
Born in Genk but of Greek descent, Konstantinos Karetsas was promoted to the first team of KRC Genk prior to this season and has already received 154 minutes of action for the first team due to the Jupiler Pro League started July 26th, 2024.
Able to play either as an attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 system, on the right wing as a wide playmaker or as a central midfielder in a 3-4-3 formation, the left footed playmaker could quickly become the next break out talents in Belgium.
Rumoured to be of Real Madrid’s transfer interest this summer and have previously declined to accept a transfer to Manchester City, the teenage sensation is attracting attention for his wonderful ball control, creativity and passing abilities.
Standing out for his vision, passing, dribbling, first touch and technique, Karetsas could easily become the successor to Kevin de Bruyne in the Belgium National team in the future.
The #20 of Genk, loves to find pocket of spaces, or play between the lines supporting the forward(s). Enjoying to move into attacking positions with the ball, or make third man runs by arriving into the penalty box later he comes into goalscoring opportunities often, and could have scored both one and two goals on his Jupiler Pro debut last gameweek!
One where he made a smart movement by arriving in the penalty box after a cut back that hit the goalkeeper, and another where he made a low shot placed towards the far post but on both occassions it was saved on the goal line, or hit the post after receiving the ball with his back towards goal before easily feinting his marker by turning quickly onto his strongest foot. I’m sure his first official goal for KRC Genk will come soon and by then everyone will remember his name!
Apart from his tactical intelligence to make forward runs at the right time and into the right positions, his agility, dribbling and close control brings another dimension to his game. Using progressive carries, one-two’s or through balls to set up his teammates into goalscoring opportunities, Karetsas got everything a team would desire when the team is in possession of the ball, both in terms of creating space and destabilizing the opposition’s defensive block by unpredictability and quick-thinking.
Watch out for Konstantinos Karetsas in Football Manager 2025! He could easily become one of the best wonderkid bargains as his current transfer value is “just” €4million according to Transfermarkt.
Mikey Moore / 16 / Tottenham
Although Ange Postecoglou was one of the worst managers to give youth minutes on the pitch last season, a youthful Tottenham could turn that statistic on its head for the 2024-2025 season. By signing Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray this summer, expectations have reached new heights! Add one of the best English talents in their ranks, Mikey Moore, to the list, and you can understand why Tottenham fans have everything to look forward to in the coming season!
Mikey Moore is a right-footed Inside Forward who can also play behind a natural out-and-out striker or up front as a with immense potential. For England Under-17 he has scored 10 goals in 12 appearances and was one of the greatest players in this year’s UEFA Euro Under-17 Championship with 4 goals in 4 matches – only one goal away from Rodrigo Mora’s five goals for a team that went all the way to the finals.
His two goals against France in the Euro U17 gives you a taste of what Moore can bring to Tottenham. His first goal was a calm but very well-placed header as he moves towards the far post in behind the back of the opposing marker whilst the second goal truly revealed a star in the making as he picked up the ball in the left half space and cut inside towards the center of the pitch and dribbled his way past the opposition defensive lines before placing the ball towards the opposite side.
In the U18 Premier League, Mikey Moore’s performances were brilliant – making 12 assists and scoring 17 goals in only 22 appearances. That’s a goal every 101 minute!
His eye for the goal and finishing technique has resulted in some mouth-dropping goals. As a player who likes to cut inside from the left flank, he loves to carry the ball into more dangerous positions around zone 14 before trying to curl the ball towards the opposite corner of the goal. Drawing similarities to a young Phil Foden, his ball control, creativity, agility and dribbles are outstanding for his age.
His close control, awareness and decision-making in the final third makes him into an incredible wonderkid who can easily develop into a world-class player if his development continues.
Able to do the spectacular, whether it’s a wonderful one-two, a long shot from the edge of the penalty box or a magnificent through ball to his forward partner, Mikey Moore thrives in the final third with his playfulness on the ball and spectacular nose to sniff out chances to score goals & use his flair to aid his team to advance the ball into attacking positions.
This summer he has continued his impressive performances in Tottenham’s pre-season friendlies this summer by scoring a goal against Hearts and getting everything from 45 minutes here and there to 15 minutes on the pitch to improve his fitness for the coming season.
Mikey Moore is definitely a star in the making, the question is whether this will finally be the year he breaks through in professional football and get that debut goal in the Premier League, or if he will be another one of those being loaned out to gain experience in the Championship, or League One. If so, Tottenham will be the one who misses out!
Ethan Nwaneri / 17 / Arsenal
After two consecutive years where Arsenal have nearly missed out in the title-challenge, Mikel Arteta’s men are hungry for revenge and is looking to bolster their squad with some key transfers with multiple forwards named on their shopping-list. When it comes to strengthening their attack, Mikel Arteta is fortunate to have one of the greatest talents since Bukaryo Saka within their own ranks!
We’re of course talking about Arsenal’s wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri. Born in March 2007, the 17-year old versatile attacking midfielder is seen as the next big thing in English football.
Ethan Nwaneri made his debut in the Premier League as far back as September 2022, at the tender age of just 15 years and 5 months. It made him into the youngest ever player to appear in Premier League – a record that still stands. Since then, he has only received an additional 13 minutes of Premier League action in EPL 23/24.
Instead, Nwaneri has become one of the key players and best performers for Arsenal in the U18 Premier League and Premier League 2. Last season, the versatile attacking midfielder produced three assists and scored 10 goals over 13 appearances in EPL 2 but overall, he has scored 27 goals over 54 apps for the different youth sides of Arsenal since 2020/21.
For the last few years, he has regularly trained with the first team and was selected to participate with the Arsenal squad for this summer’s pre-season Tour to USA, where he impressed Arteta and the fans with his magnificent ball control and technique as play enters the final third.
Suitable to play both as a number 8 as the heartbeat of the midfield, on the right wing and cut inside onto his strongest foot, or up top as a number 10 like a second forward who can roam into pocket of spaces to pick up the ball and use his acceleration and close control to act as a link-up player for his teammates, Ethan Nwaneri thrives with the ball at his feet as a wonderful press-resistant attacking midfielder.
What separates Nwaneri from other talents is his eye for the goal and how ruthless he is as play enters closer and closer to the penalty box.
With the ball at his feet, the versatile playmaker can drop deep to receive the ball before using his wonderful vocabular of dribbles and acceleration to carry the ball forward into more dangerous areas of the field. Even though he might lack the physic to be ready for the Premier League at the moment, he takes up for this with off the ball movements, progressive carries, quickness both on and off the ball and a vision and anticipation that draw similarities to some of the best Ballon D’Or winners of the last decade.
His curved shots from outside the box might resemble Saka, while his progressive carries when cutting inside has a little bit of Messi or his through balls and passes reminds me of Ødegaard.
Anyway, Ethan Nwaneri might be the next revelation in the Premier League. However, with Arteta only giving 13 minutes of actions to youth, finding a pathway to first team football could look difficult unless injuries happens. At least, he has everything required to succeed and will definitely be one of the best Football Manager 2025 wonderkids in the world for the coming season!
Harry Amass / 17 / Man Utd
When Mikel Arteta was the one manager to give youth the least minutes on the pitch in Premier League 23/24, the story for Erik ten Hag was completely different. With 21 players in the first team sidelined by injuries throughout last season, you would think the Dutch manager and his staff would be able to sort out why their team suffered from 45 injuries and fix the situation for this pre-season. Instead, the story continues meaning Manchester United might have to look to the youth if another injury crisis happens.
In this summers pre-season, 17-year-old left back Harry Amass has been impressive. Along with Ethan Wheatley, Shea Lacey and Toby Collyer, he could very well become the next break out star at Carrington.
Poached by Man Utd from Watford at the age of 16, Harry Amass has been dubbed as one of the greatest left-back talents in England. Now, he might be in the starting-line up against Manchester City in the Community Shield on Saturday, 10th of August 2024.
“My intention is to play first-team football at this club. I think if the opportunity comes, I’ve got to take it with both hands, it could change my career. I am just waiting for that moment, I am ready.”
Harry Amass, Manchester Evening News
In the pre-season match against Liverpool, the youngster made an impressive performance against Mo Salah and won 7 ground duels and showed how important aggression could be to eliminate those Premier League stars.
Even though competing with Luke Shaw for the left back position, Harry Amass could easily become an English National team player in the future.
Still young, he is not afraid to tackle or get stuck in. Although great at using his body angle to deny opposing players to cut inside into dangerous positions, his on the ball skills is far superior than his positioning and defensive abilities. Gifted with the ball and use his quickness and make quick combination passes to progress the ball, he got everything you desire of a modern attacking wingback.
Tactical intelligent to understand when to move forward, the quickness and concentration to know when to intercept balls, close down or push to the byline, or the stamina and pace to run up and down the flank.
As a playerr with above average flair, great close control, agility and dribling skills he could easily have been used as a winger if required to, and try to win possession high up the pitch.
On the ball he is gifted at holding up the ball in tight spaces, and got that little extra to help his team build out of pressure and reach the final third.
Harry Amass could be one of the English wonderkids set for a major upgrade on Football Manager 2025. Together with Chido-Obi Martin, who is set to become third-choice striker, he is definitely one to watch for 2024/25 season and beyond.
David Pejičić / 17 / Udinese
Last season, Udinese finished two points above relegation to Serie B, and with the history of finishing around the 12th place of Serie A for the past 10 years, Udinese has made some smart transfers in Lorenzo Lucca, Damián Pizarro, Goncalo Esteves and Iker Bravo. However, Udinese is stacked with promising forwards and attacking midfielders. One of the brightest talents that can break out in the 2024-25 season is Slovenian Under-17 international David Pejičić.
The attacking midfielder might immediately struggle for game time, especially since the new manager Kosta Runjaic preferring a 3-4-2-1 system with Isaac Success, Brenner or Florian Thauvin playing behind the single forward.
However, the Slovenian hot-prospect could along with Matteo Palma become a revelation in the Italian Serie A this season, if getting the opportunity.
David Pejičić made his debut for Udinese in November 2023 in the Coppa Italia match against Cagliari. Wanted by Ajax and several other top clubs in Europe since then, he signed a professional contract with Udinese last summer describing how much their value his talent.
Born on the 14. June 2007, David Pejičić is a rather mature versatile midfielder who can play both as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder or as a winger.
Standing out for his work rate, aggression and desire to regain possession by setting the press, or use his passing technique, vision and composure to make the right decisions when the team is building up play and making those much-needed through balls to enter final third, he possesses everything a modern midfielder needs these days.
With the ability to dictate tempo of the play and hold up the ball and look for counter-attacking moves, his mid-range passes and ability to use his silky touches and dribbles to create the necessary space to move the ball forward are key to his style of play.
Playing like a 10-year older player, he understands when to pass short, when to try for that killer pass, or where to position himself to become a passing option. Out of possession, he isn’t afraid to dive to the ground to set in a tackle, or rush forward to close down time and space for the opposing ball receiver.
The 17-year-old blond Slovenian midfielder draws attention on the field for both his passing range, magnificent ball control and tactical intelligence. Personally, I believe he could be one of the FM25 Wonderkids destined for an upgrade and could easily take Serie A with storm if receiving the chance.
The question is not if but when.
My only concern is that Udinese has one of the biggest squads in the Italian top-flight and the fate of David Pejičić could quickly become like Simone Pafundi, who have been loaned-out to Lausanne despite being one of the most talented attacking midfielders of his generation.
What we do know is that the Slovenian midfielder has immense potential and could become one of the greatest playmakers Slovenia has ever seen.
Adam Aznou / 18 / Bayern Munich
After the shocking third place in Bundesliga 23/24, Bayern Munich wants to bounce back by winning the Bundesliga for the 34th time in the club’s history.
However, with multiple of their best players reaching their peak, Bayern Munich might look to their Academy to revive their squad. Competing against 30-year-old Raphael Guerreiro at left back and world-class fullback Alphonso Davies who is wanted by Real Madrid, the path to first team football looks promising for Adam Aznou.
Along with Noel Aséko Nkili, Arijon Ibrahimovic and latest signing Nestory Irankunda, Moroccan fullback Adam Aznou might become the next breakout stars at the German Bundesliga for 2024-25 season.
READ MORE | Bayern Munich’s top five talents to watch
The 18-year-old attacking wingback is a product of the La Masia Academy and was poached by Bayern Munich in 2022, at the age of 16.
Back then he was an integral part of the Spanish Under-16 and U17 National team and received 11 matches before being called up to represent Morocco U17 October last year. In March 2024, he debuted for the Moroccan Under-23 team and have been trusted with several minutes in Bayern Munich pre-season friendlies painting the picture of a talented youngster that the German Bavarian side holds in high regards.
With magnificent technique, ball control and agility, the teenage sensation could easily play as a left inverted winger! His abilities to hold up the ball, make progressive carries out of tight spaces and silky touches to bring the ball forward despite having an opponent breathing down his neck, makes him into a wonderful attacking fullback to watch.
In Football Manager we could describe his best role as a complete wingback as he has the flair, dribbling, agility and quickness to bring the ball forward into the final third.
Highly creative, outstanding in tight areas and in one-on-one situations everything seems possible for this incredible talent.
With the ball at his feet, he glides past his marker before making accurate low crosses towards the forward or can cut inside and shoot with his strongest left foot.
Barcelona might regret they were never able to tie down Adam Aznou at the age of 16. Personally, I reckoned him as the natural replacement for Jordi Alba in the future.
Instead, it’s the Bavarian fans that could clinch the Moroccan wonderkid to their heart as he makes his debut in the German Bundesliga when that time comes. If not, I’m sure there are multiple clubs around the world eager to improve their squad with his quickness, ball control and unpredictability.
Guille Fernández / 16 / Barcelona
Barcelona has been forced to look to their La Masia Academy for the past two years due to their financial situation. Even though they are beginning to see improvements, the club might look to their youth if injury crisis appears this season as well. Over the last two years, the club has giving La Liga debut to seven of their La Masia graduates and as we approach a new season, there are several Barca Athletic players knocking on the first team squad’s door.
Along with Marc Bernal (17), Noah Darvich (17) and Toni Fernandez (16) and Marc Gistau (16), the Catalonian club got the next Pedri already paving his way towards the first team.
As the youngest player in the Barca Athletic squad for 2024-25 season, Guille Fernández is destined to be one of the best potential wonderkids for Football Manager 2025. As you might have guessed, we are extremely excited about the talent of Guillermo Fernández Casino. We have already mentioned him as one of top 10 potential FM25 wonderkids to watch but also believe he can make his professional breakthrough in the Spanish La Liga for 2024-25 season.
Guille Fernández is a technical gifted midfielder who possesses some of the same abilities as Pedri, Gavi or Andres Iniesta.
The 16-year-old midfielder born in 2008, received his debut for Barca Athletic at the end of last season as he played 6 minutes in the Promotion LaLiga 2 play-off final match against Córdoba.
The right footed midfielder can play in several roles. Featuring both the flair, passing technique and ball control to become a viable option as an advanced playmaker he is also brilliant at making progressive carries and use his close control and low centre of gravity to dribble past opponents with ease.
Standing out for his immense skills to get out of tight spaces and act as a press reliant midfielder able to turn defence into attack by either dribbling forward or using his vision to make through balls, the Spanish Under-17 international has everything to be dubbed as the new La Masia Jewel.
Since making his debut for the Spain’s Under-17 National team in October 2023, he has scored 6 goals in 11 appearances which is quite impressive.
The 171cm tall midfielder takes up for his physical weaknesses in quick-thinking and astonishing ball control. Gifted at running with the ball and create space for his teammates with progressive carries, the teenage phenomenon has also a decent long shot and could be classed as a gifted Mezzala as he operates in the half space zones and likes to take shots from outside the box, or press the opponent in a way that helps the team to regain control of the ball high up the pitch and eventually dribble into the penalty area before placing the ball securely in the back of the net.
When signing his professional contract with Barcelona which ties him up until end of June 2027, the release clause was set to 1billion Euros – revealing how much Barcelona value what could become the next superstar at the club after Lamine Yamal took the world stage at this year’s Euros.
Now it’s all up to Hansi Flick to continue the focus on bringing youth into the first team. I’m 100% sure we have not heard the last of Guille Fernández! Remember the name of this remarkable wonderkid on Football Manager 2025!
Rodrigo Mora / 17 / Porto
Picking the break out talent in the Portuguese top league was a tough call. With a goal in the Supertaca 24/25 Sporting CP’s Geovany Quenda could have made our list. However with the fierce competition from Trincão, Marcus Edwards and Geny Catamo, I have instead decided to pick Portuguese wonderkid Rodrigo Mora.
Named the “Young Athlete of the Year” in 2023 at Porto, winning the golden boot award for scoring the most goals in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship 2024, he is the next in line from Portugal to become a world-class player.
He made his debut for Porto B in the Liga Sabseg in 2022 by receiving one minute on the pitch but was regarded as a regular player in the B-squad last season, where he scored 4 goals in 28 appearances whilst also being one of the standout performers in the UEFA Youth League 23/24 by helping Porto U19 making it all the way to the semi-finals. Both in the group stage and in the quarter-final he scored two goals and ended the tournament with 7 goals in 9 appearances.
Before 2024/25 season he has been moved up to the first team, and there are huge expectations ahead of his Liga Portugal debut.
Rodrigo Mora is capable to play as either an attacking midfielder or on either flank. Standing at only 168cm, the versatile attacking midfielder impresses pundits with his low centre of gravity, astonishing ball control and eye for the goal. A bit similar to Jamal Musiala he excels in tight situations where he can use his speed, agility and rapid change of tempo and wonderful close control to get out of pressure. His balance when slaloming between his opponents, quick thinking and pace with the ball makes him into a teenage phenomenom.
The Portuguese wonderkid is remarkable at taking advantage of those pocket of spaces that erupts and his his dribbling vocabular in one-on-one situation to get into the final third with the ball seemingly glued to his feet.
In the final third he has a eye for the goal and is capable of placing the ball out if goalkeeper’s reach, either by striking the ball along the ground or curling the ball towards one of the posts.
All in all, Porto should feel fortunate to have one of the most remarkable Portuguese talents within their ranks. The creative and highly unpredictable midfielder could easily become the next Portuguese international star. World Cup 2030 player of the tournament award winner, who knows?!
Oscar Perea / 18 / Strasbourg
The French Ligue 1 has established themselves among the top clubs for providing young players under the age of 23 a pathway to first team football. With less financial resources than English clubs, French clubs have been forced to look to their youth Academies for potential future income.
Although we have players like Ethan Mbappé (LOSC Lille), Ibrahim M’baye (PSG) and Mathis Lambourde (Stade Rennais) to breakout in Ligue 1 for 2024-25 season I’m excited about Colombian wonderkid Oscar Perea to make his European debut.
Signed for €5million from Atletico Nacional, Oscar Perea made his debut in the Colombian Liga Dimayor all the way back in 2022 and would later on be named asone of the greatest talents in the 2005 generation by The Guardian.
The 180cm tall left winger has scored 8 goals over 54 appearances for Atl. Nacional – participating in the Copa Libertadores, winning the Liga Dimayor 21/22, the Colombian Supercup and the Copa Colombia in 22/23 season.
Now, Oscar Perea is the youngest player in the Colombian Under-23 squad but is yet to play any matches for one of the Colombian youth national teams, as far as I know.
Strasbourg could be a great stepping stone club for Oscar Perea. In the Ligue 1 he will be able to showcase his wonderful ball control and attacking instinct. Able to play on both wings, the winger loves to run with the ball directly against the opponent. Using his dribbling skills and close control to succeed in one-on-one situation, he can be an attack all on its own either as a counter-attacking threat who uses his quickness and progressive carries to get the ball into the final third, or by moving into space and take the ball with determination into the penalty area before placing the ball in the back of the net.
Oscar Perea is a player who loves to drop into pocket of spaces and drift with the ball either by cutting inside from the left wing, or receive the ball deep in the middle of the pitch before drifting to the right or left half space. With his magnificent touch, agility and technique he is able to create space by quickly moving the ball behind his direct marker.
The only way to stop him is to make a foul, something that could be an opportunity to score goals from dead ball situations. The only dubious question is whether Oscar Perea could adapt to the European life style and the French culture.
Although I believe Ligue 1 could be the perfect place to become that world class star everyone imagined him to become at 16. It will be interesting to see what plans newly appointed Strasbourg manager, Liam Rosiener, has for Oscar Perea and his development.
At the moment, Strasbourg has one of the youngest squads in Ligue 1 with an average age of just 22.1 – meaning Perea’s pathway into the first team seems clear.
Honorable Mentions
- Francesca Camarda (16) – A.C. Milan – Striker
- Geovany Quenda (17) – Sporting CP – Forward
- Mattia Liberali (17) – AC Milan – Attacking Midfielder/Winger
- Jorthy Mokio (16) – AFC Ajax – Central Defender
- Seth Ridgeon (16) – Fulham – Defensive Midfielder
- Tyrique George (18) – Chelsea – Attacking Midfielder/Winger – Player Profile by Future Ballers
- Trey Nyoni (17) – Liverpool – Attacking Midfielder
- Ryan Francisco (17) – São Paulo – Forward
- Mathis Lambourde (18) – Stade Rennais – Forward
- Felipe Esquivel (16) – River Plate – Winger – Profiling the potential FM25 Wonderkid
- Giovanni Leoni (17) – Sampdoria – Central Defender
- David Otorbi (16) – Valencia – Winger
- Justin Lerma (16) – Independiente del Valle – Attacking Midfielder *Bor. Dortmund future transfer agreed
- Alphadjo Cissè (17) – Hellas Verona – Attacking Midfielder
- Myles Lewis-Skelly (17) – Arsenal – Defensive Midfielder
Which players do you believe will breakthrough in the 2024-2025 season? Any young talents who have impressed you in the pre-season and think can become world class players before the end of 2025? Let us know in the comments which players you believe can break out soon.
