Next Generation 2021: five-year follow-up shows varied career paths
The Guardian’s Next Generation 2021 follow-up, published on 30 September 2026, reviews how the 80 players chosen in 2021 have progressed over the five years since their selection and finds that early breakthroughs have not guaranteed long-term success.
In 2021 the series picked 80 prospects — 20 from the Premier League and 60 from the rest of the world — most aged 17 with some 16-year-olds, and has tracked their careers over a five-year period. One Premier League profile described a ball-playing central midfielder from a footballing family whose father, Adam, played for Brighton and now manages Worthing FC, while other relatives Martin, Paul and Wally also had playing careers. In the world section the list included Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko, noted as the youngest to appear in the Bundesliga at 16 years and one day, the youngest player to appear in the Champions League 17 days later, the youngest Bundesliga scorer 11 days after that and the youngest player and youngest scorer for the Germany Under-21s before he had turned 17.
Moukoko, who went on to play for Germany at the World Cup the following year, was widely tipped and described in the original piece as having a carefree style, “young Michael Owen-esque.” He has since suffered injuries and struggled to secure a regular starting place while competing with established forwards; after a strong period at the start of 2022–23 he tore ankle ligaments and did not reclaim a starting role. In 2025 he moved to Copenhagen and is currently on loan at Turkish top-flight side Corum, a club that welcomed Moukoko to the “family” in a short statement; he is yet to start a game but has made substitute appearances, including a home debut marked by an assist in a 3–0 win over Eyüpspor, and Transfermarkt values him at €5m (£4m).
Jack Hinshelwood’s progression has been steadier: he was promoted to Brighton’s Under-21s and has accrued 67 Premier League appearances while being named on Thomas Tuchel’s 55-man longlist for the 2026 World Cup. An ankle problem has hampered the start of the current campaign and his market value is listed at €28m (£24m); the piece adds that Brighton are not about to sell him. Hinshelwood’s father Adam told Sky this year that “it is definitely not just a straight line”, adding: “There were lots of bumps and ups and downs along the way.” Adam also recalled an under-15s challenge that proved formative: “It was a big catalyst for Jack,” Adam said. “He rolled up his sleeves and became a proper footballer.”
Across the 60 world talents, 24 have gone on to represent their senior countries; Moukoko has two caps, notably fewer than players such as Julio Enciso and Gavi. Some players have changed allegiance to achieve senior international football, with Livano Comenencia moving from the Netherlands age groups to win more than 20 caps for Curaçao and to play at this summer’s World Cup.
From the 20 Premier League picks in 2021 only a small number remain with their original clubs — Hinshelwood and Liverpool’s Kaide Gordon are cited — while the rest are playing in leagues in the US, Qatar and Hong Kong among other destinations. Collectively the 20 have managed 145 top‑flight appearances, with Hinshelwood accounting for almost half of that total. Adrian Blake, who was with Watford in 2021, moved to Utrecht in 2023 after early struggles; speaking to Football-oranje.com in 2025 he said: “It hasn’t been easy and a lots of ups and downs,” and added: “But now I am getting my rewards and showing why I made the right decision by moving here.” Blake moved at 17 and described the Eredivisie as “because it is a great league for young players”, concluding: “For me it was a no-brainer.” The piece notes he is a 21-year-old with much of his career ahead of him.
The Next Generation follow-up emphasises the divergent paths of players such as Moukoko, Hinshelwood and Blake and closes by asking what the next five years will bring for this cohort.