One potential breakout star identified for each Premier League club ahead of the season
On 6 August 2026 The Guardian published a feature naming one potential breakout player for each Premier League club ahead of the new season, profiling youth and fringe talents based on recent form and development.
The piece highlights a range of academy and young first-team prospects, using appearances, youth-league statistics and pre-season contributions as evidence. For Arsenal it points to Salmon, who became the fourth-youngest player to represent the club when he came off the bench against Club Brugge in the Champions League in December at the age of 16 years and 102 days; he made four first-team appearances and featured 14 times for the Under-21s in Premier League 2, winning 71.8% of his duels (56 of 78). Aston Villa’s target is Madjo, signed from Metz in January for about £10.5m but unregistered at the time; now available, the 17-year-old centre-forward has played regularly in pre-season and scored four goals in recent friendlies. Bournemouth’s candidate is Milosavljevic, who joined from Red Star Belgrade last summer, made seven appearances in all competitions and registered the most clearances of any Bournemouth player on his Premier League debut before making his full international debut for Serbia in October.
Brighton’s pick is Yohanna, a 19-year-old left-footed winger who joined from AIK for around £21.5m; he played 13 league games for AIK and, before his move, attempted more dribbles per 90 minutes than any other player in the Allsvenskan, while leading in several take-on metrics (six take-ons driving into the box, 15 take-ons in the box and a joint-most three take-ons followed by a shot). Chelsea’s prospect is Reggie Watson, a 16-year-old defensive midfielder described as having “impressive physical attributes” and compared tentatively with Rodri; Xabi Alonso said he was “really impressed” with Watson’s pre-season impact. Coventry’s young midfielder Andrews made 10 appearances last season before a loan to Hibernian and earned his first start for Wales in a friendly against Romania, registering nine passes in the final third (third-most in the match) and winning two fouls. Crystal Palace’s Drakes-Thomas became the club’s youngest Premier League player last season, having debuted in the Conference League at 16 and produced seven crosses (most in the match) and two chances created (joint-most) against KuPS.
Everton’s candidate George arrived on loan in February and started just one game initially but has featured in three of Everton’s four pre-season friendlies and is noted for his direct running. Fulham’s young winger Ali-Wahid signed his first professional contract last summer, scored 10 goals and provided seven assists in PL2 (17 goal involvements), was nominated for the PL2 Player of the Season award and has been selected by manager Álvaro Arbeloa in pre-season; he also created 26 chances from open play last term. Hull’s Hughes, 22, started 36 Championship games last season, played every minute of their playoff campaign, averaged 1.54 blocks per 90 (most of any regular) and 7.62 clearances per 90 (team-high among players with 1,000+ minutes). Ipswich’s Mendel-Idowu, who joined in summer 2024 but is yet to make a first-team appearance, recorded 15 goal involvements in 17 PL2 games (nine goals, six assists), created 33 chances from open play and won possession in the final third 21 times.
Leeds’ defensive prospect Lienou started all but one of the club’s PL2 games last season, won possession 5.4 times per 90 (second-most in the side) and was the only youth-team player in Leeds’ first three pre-season games before being called into the senior Wales squad by Craig Bellamy in June. Liverpool’s Trey Nyoni, 19, made 14 appearances last season with two starts, has been prominent in pre-season under Andoni Iraola and completed 141 of 154 passes (92%) across three friendlies, including 44 of 54 forward passes (81%). Manchester City’s McAidoo registered 12 goal involvements in PL2 (only Reigan Heskey had more with 15 for City), scored on his first-team debut in the FA Cup 10-1 win over Exeter City and registered the second-most touches in the opposition box (13) in a pre-season friendly against Inter; Enzo Maresca described him as “the type of winger I love”. Manchester United’s Gabriel scored 23 goals in the 2025-26 U18 Premier League, won that competition’s Player of the Season award, had been the youngest to represent United’s Under-18s at 14 scoring twice on debut and featured as a late substitute in United’s pre-season friendly against Atlético Madrid.
Newcastle’s Park, 19, signed last summer and averaged 4.7 dribble attempts per 90 in PL2 while adapting to English football; he has impressed in pre-season. Nottingham Forest’s Thompson moved from Linfield last July, was the youngest to play for Forest’s Under-21s and logged among the highest minutes (only four players recorded more), won the club’s scholar of the year award and posted six goal involvements in PL2. Sunderland’s Angulo, reported to have cost £15m in January and aged 23, came from Anderlecht and in the Belgian Pro League had attempted 111 dribbles and recorded 11 goal involvements prior to his move. Spurs’ Williams-Barnett progressed from Under-18 football into first-team contention last season, made one senior appearance, produced an exceptional 1.25 combined goals and assists per 90 in PL2 (ranking fourth among players with 500+ minutes) and created 0.8 big chances per 90; he has been heavily involved in pre-season.
Bournemouth’s Milosavljevic, 19, arrived from Red Star Belgrade last summer and, despite limited appearances (seven in all competitions), has been identified as a candidate to fill the centre-back spot vacated by Marcos Senesi after making a notable defensive contribution on his Premier League debut and earning a Serbia full international debut in October. Milambo, signed from Feyenoord for around £21m last year, endured a season-ending ACL injury on international duty in October but had risen to prominence in 2024-25 with 14 goal involvements in all competitions and notably became Feyenoord’s youngest-ever player in 2021 when he debuted at 16; the feature suggests he could push for a role once recovered.
The article concludes by setting out the immediate next steps for several prospects: Salmon has signed a pre-agreement to commit his future to Arsenal when he turns 17 later this month, Madjo is now available for Aston Villa selection after being unregistered in January, and multiple youngsters are being monitored through pre-season appearances that could determine first-team opportunities this season.
