A youngster to watch at each Premier League club this season
Ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season, BBC Sport has picked one young player from every top-flight club who could break through this year. The selections range from established academy graduates with first-team experience to recent signings expected to make an impact, offering a guide to emerging talent worth following, including for Fantasy Premier League managers.
Standouts include Arsenal's Max Dowman, who at 16 became the Premier League's youngest ever goalscorer and is tipped for a bigger role under Mikel Arteta; Aston Villa's George Hemmings, a 19-year-old midfielder who made his debut last season; Bournemouth's Serbia international defender Veljko Milosavljevic, signed for £13m; and Brentford's £8m striker signing Kaye Furo. The full list covers all 20 Premier League clubs, with the season kicking off on Friday, 21 August, when champions Arsenal host newly promoted Coventry City.
- BBC names one breakthrough youngster to watch at each Premier League club
- Arsenal's Max Dowman, 16, already the league's youngest-ever scorer
- Premier League season starts 21 August with Arsenal v Coventry City
New here? Start with this
Fantasy football fans and Premier League followers use pre-season "youngster to watch" guides to spot rising talent before the campaign begins, often because early breakthrough performers can be shrewd picks or simply exciting to follow from the outset. These lists typically draw on a mix of academy graduates already known to first-team fans and new signings whose reputations are still being established in England.
The 2026-27 Premier League season is about to start, with all 20 clubs preparing squads that blend experienced players with emerging youngsters hoping for their chance. Clubs invest heavily in scouting and developing young players, both from their own academies and through transfers, as a cheaper and sometimes more effective route to strengthening a squad than buying established stars.
The new season begins on Friday, 21 August, when reigning champions Arsenal host promoted side Coventry City, kicking off a fresh nine-month competition across the English top flight.