The Dawn of the Premier League

With 13 match weeks now completed, the Premier League season has offered plenty of entertainment, from awkward own-goals to surprise victories to world-class bicycle kicks. During the summer, all clubs in totality spent a record-breaking $3 billion. The majority of this money was spent on young talent, with feeder countries and leagues producing young, high-quality players. This talent has been showcased throughout the results of many teams during this season. Here are some of the best-performing youngsters this season (in no particular order). 

#1: Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)

During the summer, Liverpool completely revamped their midfield, cutting ties with former captain Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, and Naby Keita. Due to their age, it was absolutely necessary to replace them with youth offering a promise of potential while still delivering present quality. Though Alexis MacAllister and Wataru Endo, two midfield newcomers, have proven successful, the Hungarian international Dominik Szoboszlai has clearly been their top midfielder this season. After signing for Liverpool from RB Leipzig for around $75 million, heavy expectations were placed on him, and he has certainly lived up to them. Since his career took flight at RB Salzburg, his clean strike, vision, and passing range make him an optimal transition player who also thrives in the attacking third. Due to Liverpool’s current system, Szoboszlai has been asked to defend a little more than he was used to at his former clubs, but in terms of his attacking output and influence, he’s still been excellent, and he certainly should be in the conversation for the best midfielders in the Premier League this season. 

#2: Destiny Udogie (Tottenham)

Tottenham Hotspur have been revitalized with the arrival of head coach Ange Postecoglou. Recently, however, injuries and suspensions have caused a dip in performance, with consecutive losses in the last two weeks to Wolves and Chelsea. However, with a fully fit squad, Tottenham’s success at the start of the season cannot be overlooked. While Micky Van De Ven and Guglielmo Vicario shored up prior defensive woes, Tottenham lacked an adequate left back. Destiny Udogie, a young splash signed a year prior, ended up delivering big. Udogie was loaned back to his former club, Udinese, for a season before joining Spurs for around $40 million. Whether Udogie is defending the ball or attacking, he has been brilliant in that inverted left-back position, often dropping into midfield. Spurs definitely have themselves a gem for the present and the future in the Italian international.

#3: Jeremy Doku (Manchester City)

Manchester City entered this season looking to win the Premier League for a mind-blowing third time in a row. To bolster their attack, they signed Belgian winger Jeremy Doku from Rennes, in France’s Ligue 1. Considering Jack Grealish’s stellar last season, which helped City to the treble, Doku’s signing surprised many. Competition for the winger position is fierce, with the likes of Grealish, Bernardo Silva, and Phil Foden all fighting for similar positions, but it’s safe to say that Doku has the gaffer’s confidence with two goals and five assists in 10 Premier League games. Doku brings back the old flair of legendary wingers like Ronaldinho and Neymar, which many modern-day wingers lack with defensive tactics adjusting to deprive space on the wing. Doku’s dribbling prowess and skills were on full display against Liverpool; he was continuously City’s most dangerous attacker and had defender Trent Alexander Arnold on skates. Along with Erling Haaland and a flourishing Julian Alvarez, Doku will take this City attack to the next level as they continue to dominate English football. 

#4: Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion):

Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton team continues to impress this season, continuing their outstanding performances from last season. Even though they currently sit eighth in the League, they boast top-of-the-league quality emerging from their never-ending supply of new talent. In years prior, they seemingly brought up new stars like Kaoru Mitoma and Tariq Lamptey out of thin air; this season, 19-year-old Evan Ferguson has been their breakout star, starting his campaign with six goals in 12 games. A product of the youth academy, Ferguson joined Brighton in January 2021, coming from Bohemians FC in the Irish first division. He started this season with an exceptional hattrick against a gritty Newcastle side and has continued on his merry way, adding another dimension to an already scary Brighton attack. A small injury halted his progress, but a beautiful finish in Brighton’s last game against Nottingham Forest has signaled his comeback. He is still very young and will surely thrive in the years to come under De Zerbi’s brand of attacking football as Brighton once again looks to secure the European places. 

The Premier League season has been eventful, and these youngsters were at its core. Keep an eye on these talents as they develop into untouchable franchise players for their respective clubs and continue to preserve the Premier League as premier football entertainment.