Premier League 2024-25 review: young players of the season

The Guardian

7 days ago

It was tempting to exclude Bergvall from consideration for this list simply because he played in Spurs' 4-0 League Cup semi-final defeat at Anfield, as cowardly a display as could possibly exist. Overall, though, he's enjoyed a fine debut season, especially as, when he joined Spurs from Djurgården, there was little sense he'd establish himself so soon. But with a little help from injuries and incompetence, he forced his way into consideration and is now a fixture in Ange Postecoglou's starting XI – with good reason. In this era of attacking and defensive prefixes, Bergvall is that rarity: a midfielder who plays in the middle of the field. Clever enough to create, calm enough to score, physical enough to tackle and athletic enough to harry, perhaps his best quality is his decision-making, especially notable for a player of his age. If he continues improving, this will not be the last time his name makes a list of this ilk.
These days, every footballer has feet – even the big lads and the goalies. But to find a centre-back with feet and fundamentals is as rare as it ever was, all the more so in one so young. There's a reason players in Huijsen's position take longer to break through: more than any other, it needs to be learned, because attackers are unpredictable and working in a unit is difficult, with intellect as important as instinct. Huijsen, though, is not only big and quick but a front-foot defender who supports the press and reads the game well enough to nick the ball off opposing attackers. It is a shame but no great surprise that he has attracted the attention of richer clubs than Bournemouth, nor that he has plumped for Real Madrid and Real Madrid have plumped for him: his style of play looks an ideal fit for the style newly-arrived Xabi Alonso will seek to inculcate.
A red-meat, iron-rich cuboid, Kerkez is nails in defence and enterprising in attack. Playing for Andoni Iraola is not easily done, and he is one of the players who makes a demanding method work: when the opposition are in possession, Bournemouth like to surround them on the ball-side even if they leave the big switch open, and Kerkez is a big reason why, a one-man left flank able – both mentally and physically – to deal with being left alone. Though Iraola is wedded to a system, within it there is scope for improvisation with 'drive the ball' one of his favourite phrases to describe what he wants from his players. And this is another area in which Kerkez excels: he is fast and strong but also skilful and intelligent, able to cover ground then produce something worthwhile at the end of the, er, action. No aspect of facing him looks pleasant.
Anyone who knows anything about age-group football knew Lewis-Skelly was coming and yet, assessing his debut season as a first-teamer, he has confounded expectations nevertheless. Young players breaking through are often forced into positions that are not their favourite and Lewis-Skelly is one such, excelling at left-back while also inverting into his more natural midfield role. Like Bukayo Saka, who broke into the Arsenal team in the same role, Lewis-Skelly has a football brain of fearsome agility, his confidence in it and in himself equal parts inspiring and affirming. Because he knows exactly how good he is and that the game is as fun as it is serious, he oozes confidence and attitude, regardless of who he's playing with or against – just ask Manchester City or Real Madrid. And, in the meantime, his mother, through her organisation No1Fan.club, is helping other parents safely navigate football's shark-infested waters. Lewis-Skelly is a potential superstar.
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Even before joining Manchester United, Yoro had a reputation as the best young centre-back in world football, but looked anything but when ravaged by Southampton's Kamaldeen Sulemana in January. Yoro, though – who arrived at Old Trafford with his own personal coach – studied his performance, learned from his mistakes, and hasn't been caught like that since. His physical qualities are obvious – an obelisk on skates, he is strong, tall and fast with seemingly extendable legs – so too his mental attributes and he has the composure to make correct decisions in difficult circumstances and the calmness to not to get caught up in the maelstrom of elite-level sport. But what sets him apart is his timing, particularly when tackling in the penalty area: he doesn't just win the ball, he confiscates it. In recent weeks, this sense has been put to increasing offensive use: Yoro is now exploiting the playmaking freedom Ruben Amorim gives his outside centre-backs. Starting by fizzing low, line-breaking, Roy Keane passes – there are few higher compliments – as his confidence grew he began driving forward with the ball, beating men and creating openings. Of course, it is impossible to rule out the possibility United ruin him, but for now, he is every bit as good as everyone said he was.