The official 24-man shortlist for the 2025 Golden Boy award has been unveiled, showcasing some of the brightest young footballers under the age of 21 from across the globe.
This year’s selection highlights the incredible depth of French talent, with six French players making the list — including Warren Zaire-Emery, Leny Yoro, and Désiré Doué — underlining the nation’s growing reputation as a powerhouse for emerging stars.
England also boasts strong representation, featuring exciting prospects such as Ethan Nwaneri, Archie Gray, and Jobe Bellingham, all of whom have impressed in the Premier League this season.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who shared the full list on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, the competition for the 2025 Golden Boy title promises to be one of the most competitive yet.
Below is the complete 24-man shortlist:
- Désiré Doué
- Leny Yoro
- Senny Mayulu
- Warren Zaire-Emery
- Eliesse Ben Seghir
- Mamadou Sarr
- Ethan Nwaneri
- Nico O’Reilly
- Archie Gray
- Jobe Bellingham
- Pau Cubarsí
- Dean Huijsen
- Kenan Yildiz
- Arda Güler
- Geovany Quenda
- Rodrigo Mora
- Pio Esposito
- Giovanni Leoni
- Franco Mastantuono
- Jorrel Hato
- Estevão
- Victor Froholdt
- Aleksandar Stanković
- Lucas Bergvall
The Golden Boy award, established by Italian newspaper Tuttosport, is presented annually to the best under-21 player in Europe’s top divisions. Recent winners include Jude Bellingham, Gavi, and Pedri, all of whom have gone on to become global stars.
With talents like Zaire-Emery, Güler, and Yoro in contention, the 2025 edition looks set to continue the award’s tradition of spotlighting football’s next generation of elite performers.