Golden Boy award: Eight Premier League players named finalists as Europe's best U-21 men's player

Will the next European "Golden Boy" award go to a Premier League player? Eight of the 25 finalists are on a current PL roster as players hope to be crowned the best under-21 player in European football according to Italian outlet Tuttosport . Brighton, Bournemouth, and Chelsea each had a pair of players named on the shortlist as Luka Vuskovic, Charalampos Kostoulas, Rayan, Eli Junior Kroupi, Estevao Willian, and Jorell Hato made the cut. Joining them are Arsenal's Myles Lewis Skelly and Man City's Ayyoub Bouaddi. MORE — Erling Haaland injury news No North American players made the cut this time after Giovanni Reyna and Christian Pulisic were listed amongst the hopefuls in previous seasons. The last Premier League player to win the award while in the division was Anthony Martial, though his season included time with both Manchester United and Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco. PSG's Desire Doue was the 2025 Golden Boy, with Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, Gavi, Pedri, and Erling Haaland the other honorees this decade. 2026 Golden Boy award shortlist Premier League players in bold Kerim Alajbegovic (Juventus) Marc Bernal (Barcelona) Ayyoub Bouaddi (Manchester City) Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona) Yan Diomande (Real Madrid) Said El Mala (Koln) Endrick (Real Madrid) Xavi Espart (Barcelona) Victor Froholdt (Porto) Joane Gadoi (Borussia Dortmund) Jorell Hato (Chelsea) Finn Jeltsch (Stuttgart) Konstantinos Karetsas (Borussia Dortmund) Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich) Charalampos Kostoulas (Brighton and Hove Albion) Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth) Myles Lewis Skelly (Arsenal) Jon Martin (Real Sociedad) Franco Mastantuono (Fiorentina / Real Madrid) Rodrigo Mora (AS Roma) Rayan (Bournemouth) Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica) Luka Vuskovic (Brighton and Hove Albion) Estevao Willian (Chelsea)