Breakouts & wildcards - 13 surprise stars for new season

[BBC] Eli Junior Kroupi, Igor Thiago and Nico O'Reilly were among the breakout stars who made their mark on the Premier League last season - but who will be next? BBC Sport's TV and radio commentators have picked 13 players they believe are worth watching out for over the next few months. Whether they are new signings, wonder kids or late bloomers, here are some unfamiliar faces of all ages who might make a name for themselves in the new campaign. 1. Sean Steur - Newcastle United Age: 18 Position: Centre-midfield Country: Netherlands In 2025, Steur was awarded the Abdelhak Nouri Trophy, Ajax's annual award for the club's best academy player. Previous winners include Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Christian Eriksen and Ryan Gravenberch [Getty Images] Steve Bower: There has been a lot of talk this summer about Newcastle players departing, particularly in the midfield area, but here's someone they brought in early on - before Eddie Howe left - in a deal that could be worth up to £23m. I saw Steur play in Europe for Ajax last season, and he made 25 appearances for them in all competitions in the end. He can either play in defensive midfield or a bit further forward, is two-footed and has lovely passing ability. Obviously it is a big step up, as we know, to come from the Dutch league into the Premier League as a teenager, and also to arrive at a club in transition with a new manager. But Newcastle have got players like Lewis Miley - who has come through in recent seasons - that Steur can learn from being in a similar situation as well. I liked the look of him on first viewing for Ajax and he appears as if he has got the personality to play in the Premier League. Steur is not someone who necessarily starts initially, or all the time, but he seems pretty fearless and is the type of player who could grab the opportunity if it comes his way. 2. Caleb Yirenkyi - Coventry City Age: 20 Position: Midfield Country: Ghana Yirenkyi (left) scored a 95th-minute winner for Ghana against Panama at the World Cup [Reuters] John Murray: This looks a potentially shrewd signing for newly promoted Coventry City, even though they have just paid a club record transfer fee of about £25m to sign him from Danish side FC Nordsjaelland. Yirenkyi featured in all four of Ghana's matches at the World Cup and, when I commentated on him during their group match against England, I thought he looked the kind of energetic midfielder who would do well in the Premier League. Conor McNamara: Coventry City have got themselves a talented and versatile new signing in Yirenkyi - which is pronounced 'yur'INCH-ee', by the way. He started on the right of a back five for Ghana against England at the World Cup, but his favoured position is the centre of midfield. Wales fans will remember him scoring against them in the pre-tournament friendly in June and he got a goal at the World Cup itself against Panama too. After coming through Ghana's 'Right To Dream Academy', he was named Young Player Of The Year in the Danish Superliga last season with Nordsjaelland. Frank Lampard could be just the right coach to help Yirenkyi blossom further, as a midfielder of Premier League standard. 3. Oscar Mingueza - Crystal Palace Age: 27 Position: Defender Country: Spain Mingueza is a product of Barcelona's La Masia academy and made 66 appearances for the club following his senior debut in 2020, before joining Celta Vigo in 2022. He has won four caps for Spain but did not make their 26-man squad for the World Cup [Getty Images] Conor McNamara: Mingueza did not make Spain's World Cup-winning squad, but the standard was incredibly high. Pedro Porro was first choice right-back and, with Marcos Llorente and Marc Pubill also able to cover that position, Mingueza was left to rue what might have been. After allowing his contract to run down at Celta Vigo, the defender has joined Crystal Palace on a free transfer, which might just prove to be one of the signings of the summer. I commentated on Mingueza playing for Spain at the Nations League finals a year ago and he is very impressive at turning defence into attack. With Daniel Munoz's future at Selhurst Park up in the air, Mingueza could be a ready-made replacement for one of Palace's most effective players of recent seasons. If Munoz stays, Mingueza has the versatility to play anywhere across the back line. 4. Brian Madjo - Aston Villa Age: 17 Position: Striker Country: England Madjo will miss the start of the new Premier League campaign after picking up an injury on his competitive debut against PSG [Getty Images] John Murray: Madjo is a teenage striker Aston Villa fans will know all about already after the goals he has scored for them in pre-season. Born in London to parents from Cameroon, Madjo grew up in Luxembourg and made his senior international debut for them last year. But he has now switched his international allegiance to England and played for the Under-17 team. After a wrangle over that, he was finally cleared to play in competitive matches for Villa, making his competitive debut last week with a goal in the Super Cup against Paris St-Germain. He looks like a big man with a big future. Guy Mowbray: There's been talk of a loan move for Madjo, but his flurry of pre-season goals and a massive impact against PSG should keep him around at least until the next transfer window. If that's the case - you won't fail to notice him! He is a powerful striker who has most of the tools to be a success. Steve Bower: I was going to choose Johan Manzambi, who I included when we did a similar article about new players to watch at the World Cup. Manzambi had an excellent tournament, and Villa pipped Newcastle to sign him. But I didn't want to include two players from one club, and I was told about Madjo when Villa signed him for just over £10m back in January, before they had well-documented issues registering him. Obviously we know he has been available in pre-season, when he has made his mark with four goals against Walsall, Real Sociedad and Indonesia All-Stars. Then of course Unai Emery gave him his opportunity against PSG, when he scored again. He has got a huge frame and figure for his age, bringing very early comparisons to Erling Haaland, which is a big tag to carry. But, without putting too much pressure on a 17-year-old's shoulders, with Villa being in the Champions League this season and the extra games that brings, Madjo is going to get some minutes. It feels like the perfect scenario for Madjo, because with strikers like Ollie Watkins and Tammy Abraham at the club, Villa can introduce a young player like him to the first team without having to rely on him. In Emery, Madjo has got the perfect manager to nurture his development too, and I think he could make his mark across all competitions this season. 5. Lucas Herrington - Hull City Age: 18 Position: Centre-back Country: Australia Before moving to Major League Soccer, Herrington played for Brisbane Roar in Australia's A-League, making his senior debut for them at the age of 17 years and three months, in December 2024 [Getty Images] Conor McNamara: I saw Herrington start for Australia at the World Cup and was impressed by his calm assurance on the ball. He only turns 19 at the start of September and is very young for any central defender in the Premier League, so it is going to be a steep learning curve for him, but he is robust at 6ft 4in, which will help. Herrington has played just one season in Major League Soccer with the Colorado Rapids, but he did well enough to be named in the MLS All-Stars Team. He only made his international debut in March, but became Australia's youngest starter in a World Cup game as they reached the knockout stages. It was Herrington's penalty - blasted against the crossbar - that ultimately eliminated Australia from the tournament in their last-32 shootout defeat by Egypt. But the fact he was given the responsibility of that crucial kick, and that he was willing to take on the challenge, shows he has immense courage. 6. Veljko Milosavljevic - Bournemouth Age: 19 Position: Centre-back Country: Serbia Milosavljevic is already a full Serbia international and became the youngest Bournemouth player to start a Premier League match when he played against Brighton in September [Getty Images] Tom Gayle: Bournemouth are renowned for their 'plug and play' approach to recruitment. Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Illia Zabarnyi arrived with low profiles and were all trusted with regular Premier League minutes before all three moved on in return for significant transfer fees. Veljko Milosavljevic could be their latest defensive recruit to attempt to follow a similar trajectory. I was at Vitality Stadium 11 months ago that the teenager made his debut in Bournemouth's 2-1 victory over Brighton. Before the match there was surprising honesty from then head coach Andoni Iraola, who told me he was unsure if Milosavljevic was ready for the Premier League. The context was that Iraola had only worked with the youngster for just a couple of days because the defender had been away with Serbia's Under-21 team. But he was ready, and made a further six top-flight appearances before suffering a knee injury in December's defeat by Everton, which remains his last Premier League outing. Granted, it's a limited sample size, but his cameos provided clear evidence Milosavljevic possesses the technical ability and physicality required to earn more consistent game time. A knock picked up during pre-season may mean a delayed start to the campaign but, fitness permitting, I'm excited at the prospect of seeing more of a man described as "one of the biggest talents of Serbian football" by media in his homeland. 7. Trey Nyoni - Liverpool Age: 19 Position: Centre-midfield Country: England Born in Reading to Zimbabwean parents, Nyoni has played for England at every age group from Under-16 to Under-20 since making his Three Lions debut in 2022 [Getty Images] Steve Wilson: The young central midfielder has been one of Liverpool's best performers in pre-season. Signed from Leicester City in 2023, he made his Premier League debut in late December after a handful of appearances in domestic cup competitions. Arne Slot liked what he saw enough to give the then 18-year-old a dozen appearances from the bench in the second half of last season. Andoni Iraola has been impressed by Nyoni on his new side's somewhat shaky US tour and, with central midfield an area Liverpool aren't especially strong in, he may be reconsidering listening to offers to send him out on loan. 8. Bazoumana Toure - Newcastle United Age: 20 Position: Left-winger Country: Ivory Coast Of the forwards playing in the Bundesliga in 2025-26, Toure ranked first for successful crosses (39), joint-third for dribbles completed (48), and fourth for both chances created (45) and big chances created (11) [Getty Images] Steve Wilson: After a difficult summer, Newcastle will be hoping Toure can make an early impact, just as he did when he joined Hoffenheim from Hammarby only 18 months ago. Fifteen assists and five goals during his time in the Bundesliga meant that comparisons with countryman Yan Diomande at RB Leipzig were inevitable. 'Bazoumania' burned brightly but only briefly in south-west Germany. Toure - who is only eight months older than Diomande, now of Real Madrid - prefers to operate down the left flank, although he can be effective on both sides. Combining his pace with control is not easy, but Toure has worked hard on providing an end product to go with his acceleration. His one start and two substitute appearances at the World Cup for Ivory Coast were slightly underwhelming but with Diomande and Amad Diallo also in the squad, competition for places out wide was fierce. 9. George Hemmings - Aston Villa Age: 19 Position: Midfield Country: England Guy Mowbray: The exits of Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers have left a big gap to fill in Aston Villa's midfield. Hemmings looks like a mixture of the two players who have departed and his display against PSG in the Super Cup caught my eye as much as, if not more than, Madjo's. He looks confident and classy on the ball. Tom Gayle: There is hole in Villa's midfield as a result of Tielemans' move to Manchester United as well as Amadou Onana's anterior cruciate ligament injury. Unai Emery will hope Hemmings could be the solution. A regular England international throughout the age groups, Hemmings had plenty of admirers as he progressed through the Nottingham Forest academy before moving to the West Midlands at the start of 2024. Back in January, I was in the press box for his first senior start in the Europa League group match against Salzburg. With Villa trailing 1-0 at half-time, the teenager - who in my assessment had struggled - was taken off. I concluded Hemmings must have been substituted because of his performance, but Emery confirmed afterwards the plan was always for him to play just 45 minutes. There's no doubt during the 20 months since his arrival at Villa's Bodymoor Heath training ground that Hemmings has been nurtured in the strict requirements of 'Emery Ball'. The Spanish head coach has admitted during this time the youngster has spent more time "working and not playing". All this work behind the scenes led to John McGinn's striking assessment of Hemmings' performance against PSG, when he proclaimed "it's no surprise to see him as one of the best players on the pitch". Following his breakout performance last week, perhaps the only surprise will be if we don't get to see a lot more of Hemmings this season. 10. Luka Vuskovic - Brighton Age: 19 Position: Centre-back Country: Croatia Vuskovic broke a five-year record for most aerial duels won in a single match in any of Europe's top-five leagues when he won 18 headers in a Bundesliga game against Union Berlin last season, earning him the nickname at Hamburg of 'Air Vuskovic' [PA Media] Steve Wilson: Playing for just over an hour at the World Cup for Croatia would have come as a disappointment to the teenager, who had just enjoyed a stellar season at Hamburg on loan from Tottenham. Brighton knew what they were doing when they made signing Vuskovic a condition of selling Jan Paul van Hecke to Spurs. Not only was he one of the best young defenders in Germany last season, he was also the Bundesliga's top-scoring centre-back. Vuskovic looks ready to come straight into top-flight action, and how many signings do Brighton get wrong? 11. Ryan McAidoo - Manchester City Age: 18 Position: Winger Country: England McAidoo started out in Colchester's youth academy before joining Chelsea in 2019. He moved to City in August 2024 [Getty Images] Guy Mowbray: What happens at Etihad Stadium this season is something of an unknown post-Pep Guardiola, but as Enzo Maresca assesses the riches he has available, he might just be impressed by the talent of the teenager recruited from Chelsea's academy. The FA Youth Cup-winning winger looked at home with the senior players on City's Far East tour, with his chances of a regular place on the bench likely to be enhanced if, as expected, Savinho moves on. 12. Shea Lacey - Manchester United Age: 19 Position: Forward Country: England In October 2025, Lacey trained with England's senior set-up, while he was part of the Three Lions' Under-20 squad. He first played for his country at Under-15 level [Getty Images] Steve Bower: At Manchester United, everyone is talking about JJ Gabriel, who is so good he is a freak of nature - but he is just 15, so we might only see him occasionally in the Carabao Cup this season. A few years ahead of him, but still only 19, is Shea Lacey, who has overcome some early injury problems and has figured prominently in pre-season. Lacey is an exciting wide player - exactly the type that United fans like - and is also very well known to Michael Carrick, not only with his coaching head on but also his parental one, from watching his son Jacey over the years in United's academy. I watched Lacey play against Burnley in United's first game under Darren Fletcher, another coach who knows him well, when he took temporary charge last season. A lifelong United fan, he was a whisker away from scoring in that game at Turf Moor and I see him being involved in the first-team squad a lot this season. He is fearless, and it doesn't look like the shirt or any expectation will weigh heavily on him. United fans are going to enjoy seeing a lot more of him this season, with Carrick keen to give him as many opportunities as possible. 13. Johan Manzambi - Aston Villa Age: 19 Position: Midfield/forward Country: Switzerland Manzambi wanted to be a goalkeeper when he was a boy and grew up idolising Germany legend Manuel Neuer. Where will he play for Villa this season? [Getty Images] James Fielden: I first saw Johan play for Freiburg towards the back end of last season in their Europa League tie against Celta Vigo and said to a colleague that something would have gone wrong for him if he wasn't playing Premier League football come August. Think of Eberechi Eze in the way he effortlessly glides across the pitch with the ball. Don't be fooled by the number nine he wore on his back for Switzerland at the World Cup - he generally plays a lot deeper than that. He played against Villa in their Istanbul final, but him not having much of a say was more about the team than his own doing. Steve Wilson: He went into the World Cup with his reputation blossoming after helping Freiburg reach the Europa League final, and came out of the World Cup looking like the future of Swiss football, with Newcastle and Villa hot on his heels. His brace against Bosnia and goal against Canada meant Freiburg had little choice but to cash in. Manzambi can play in central midfield, as a number 10 or as a right-sided forward - which is arguably his most effective position. Switzerland missed him badly when injury curtailed his World Cup in the last 32. Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast Get football news sent straight to your phone