Latest news with #YoungPlayer
New York Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Should Tottenham's Lucas Bergvall have been nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year?
Lucas Bergvall may be the Premier League's best teenager. A year on from joining Tottenham Hotspur from Djurgarden in his native Sweden for £8.5million ($10.8m), his reputation has increased to such a degree that should Spurs inconceivably consider moving him on, they could justifiably demand a tenfold increase. The 19-year-old collected a clean sweep of the club's player of the season awards, becoming the first teenager since Glenn Hoddle to do so, and is viewed as an essential part of the present and future. The arrival of Thomas Frank, a proven developer of young players, should only help Bergvall. So, how has he not made the shortlist for the PFA's Young Player of the Season award? Before arguing Bergvall's case, this is not in any way intended to diminish the excellent young players who are under consideration. Liam Delap and Dean Huijsen earned moves to Chelsea and Real Madrid, respectively, off the back of excellent debut Premier League seasons with Ipswich Town and Bournemouth. Milos Kerkez looks set to leave Bournemouth for Liverpool too. Advertisement Morgan Rogers is now a star player for Aston Villa and an established England international, and Myles Lewis-Skelly appears to be on his way to becoming Arsenal and England's left-back for years to come. His team-mate Ethan Nwaneri lit up the Emirates Stadium with sparks of his exceptional talent, scoring nine goals from 37 appearances in all competitions. They are all worthy candidates for an award won by Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Gareth Bale, Harry Kane and Dele Alli (twice) — after all, it's voted for by the players. Still, Bergvall's omission indicates they have somehow overlooked his quality and potential. His influence is not underrated in the stands at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. As rumours circulated on social media of his ankle injury before the Europa League semi-final, fans panicked as if they were losing a key player. That's because they were. As evidenced by his awards, Bergvall was Spurs' outstanding player and a key part of their Europa League success. Statistics can only go so far in quantifying the value of a player like Bergvall, for whom almost everything about playing in midfield at Premier League level comes naturally. He had a pass completion rate of 89 per cent in his debut season, only marginally beaten by Yves Bissouma (89.3) among Spurs midfielders to have started 10 games or more. Compared to players in Europe's top five leagues and the Champions League, Bergvall ranks within the 85th percentile or higher for progressive carries (2.12), successful take-ons (1.62) and interceptions (1.62) per 90 minutes. While unfamiliar to most English fans on his arrival, Tottenham had to fight off significant interest from Newcastle United and Eintracht Frankfurt. Barcelona sporting director Deco even had lunch with him and his family to convince him to leave Sweden for the Camp Nou. Advertisement His season really kicked into gear in early January during the 1-0 win over Liverpool in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, with Bergvall scoring a late winner shortly after escaping a second yellow card. From that point, the gifted, physically imposing (affectionately described as a 'lump' by team-mate James Maddison) teenager became Ange Postecoglou's most reliable midfielder. At his technical best, he's a dribbler who can skip past challenges and weave through midfield. When needed, he can lean on his physical qualities and be destructive between both boxes and has the quality to be a match-winner in the final third. He may end up as the deep-lying controller that was seen sparingly, where he demonstrated an ability to control matches from deep and navigate the opposition press with composure and vision. 'I don't think he's left (Dejan Kulusevski's) side since he's been here, and Deki (Kulusevski) is in the gym all the time,' former head coach Postecoglou said in March. 'He's a great role model for him, and if nothing else, Deki has forced him to get in there and work hard on his game. 'He's also an outstanding technical player. His technical proficiency is still his greatest asset. He's growing; you've got to remember he's only just turned 19. He's still a very young man, and if he keeps building up physically as well, to the standard you need in the Premier League, particularly in that midfield position, if you have that physical ability and that technical proficiency, then you've got a decent player on your hands.' It is testament to his progress that he is already capable of fulfilling these roles to a high standard with so much to come too. That he only made 11 starts in the Premier League (Nwaneri made 11) is perhaps justification enough to overlook him. Bergvall was sidelined at the end of the season and had he taken the Europa League final by the scruff of the neck in the manner that he did in the quarter-finals against Frankfurt, his peers may have included him. Next season and with such a high ceiling, it is not implausible that we will be talking about him as a contender for the main award after a second-season leap.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Cole Palmer receives back-to-back Premier League Young Player of the Season nomination
Image Source: Getty Chelsea wonderkid Cole Palmer has been nominated for the Premier League Young Player of the Season award for the second consecutive year after his brilliant displays during the 2024/25 season. It is the second season in succession he has been nominated, underlining his emergence and consistency since joining Chelsea from Manchester City last campaign. Cole Palmer's consistent performance earns him another nomination Cole Palmer has been a key part of the 2024/25 Premier League season for Chelsea, scoring 15 goals and assisting on nine, the most goal involvement of any nominee. His vision, imagination, and coolness in clutch situations have enabled him to thrive in various attacking positions, making him one of the most versatile young players in the league. Cole Palmer's selection sees him join a list of the very best young players, which includes the likes of Liam Delap, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Elanga, Joao Pedro, Ryan Gravenberch, William Saliba, and Dean Huijsen. Crucially for the Ajax midfielder, he is also in the running for the primary Player of the Season prize, belying the class of the young list of nominees this year. But Palmer stood out in the numbers game. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Upto 15% Discount for Salaried Individuals ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo Recognition of Cole Palmer's impact at Chelsea Palmer has made his breakthrough after establishing himself at Stamford Bridge. He has made a seamless transition to a fluent attacking style of play under new head coach Enzo Maresca , frequently acting as the side's creative hub. Palmer has performed whether played on either wing, as an attacking midfielder, or false nine. His nominations in successive seasons are a reflection not just of his talent but of his development and leadership on the field. At 23, he's established himself as one of Chelsea's most reliable figures in the rebuild, shouldering the armband multiple times already this season. He does more than just make plays — Palmer can be the guy driving the team to victory in key situations. Also Read: Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca admires working with standout player Cole Palmer Also praised for his maturity and game sense by fans and pundits, some are even tipping him for a future senior role with England. He is, additionally, doing all that on the side in transition, which is all the more commendable. Voting for the Young Player of the Season award closes on May 19, with Cole Palmer a leading candidate. With the Premier League season drawing to a close, Palmer's displays once again prompted discussion over recognition. If he wins, he will join a small group of players who have won the Young Player award in consecutive seasons — an appropriate party favor for a star whose most productive days are ahead. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
The Star
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Barca's Yamal rises to stardom in stellar year capped with title triumph
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Espanyol v FC Barcelona - RCDE Stadium, Cornella de Llobregat, Spain - May 15, 2025 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Albert Gea BARCELONA (Reuters) -Barcelona's 28th Spanish league title caps a remarkable season defined by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who at 17 has emerged as world football's most electrifying talent. Following in the footsteps of fellow graduates of Barca's La Masia academy Gavi and Ansu Fati, Yamal first made his mark internationally last summer, helping Spain win the European Championship. Since then, his mesmerizing performances have drawn comparisons to La Masia's greatest product, Lionel Messi. Yamal reached his 100th Barcelona appearance last month -three years younger than Messi was when he achieved the same feat - during a thrilling 3-3 draw with Inter Milan at Montjuic, where he became the youngest player ever to score in a Champions League semi-final. Record-breaking has become routine for Yamal. He became the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history last year with a stunning long-range shot against France that helped his side reach the final, where they beat England and he was named Young Player of the tournament. He is the youngest player to debut and score for Spain and in LaLiga, the Champions League and the Euros. He also holds the records for youngest player in a Clasico and youngest scorer in both the Super Cup and Copa del Rey. His performance against Inter Milan established him as a frontrunner for the 2025 Ballon d'Or award. Even as Barcelona narrowly missed reaching their first Champions League final in a decade - with Inter fighting back to win 4-3 in extra time in the second leg at San Siro - Yamal remained exceptional, repeatedly threatening to equalise in extra time only to be denied by goalkeeper Yann Sommer's saves and the woodwork. Yamal has been the heartbeat of Barcelona's attack this season with 15 LaLiga assists and 25 across all competitions, plus 17 goals in 53 appearances, including the first in the 2-0 win against Espanyol on Thursday that clinched Barca the title. His contributions helped Hansi Flick's Barcelona become an offensive juggernaut, with the attacking trio of Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha accounting for 91 of the team's 169 goals this season. As the campaign concludes, the football world watches to see what the young playmaker achieves next. His immediate challenge comes next month in Germany, where Spain will defend their Nations League title - another opportunity for Yamal to strengthen his case as the world's best player. (Reporting by Fernando KallasEditing by Toby Davis and Christian Radnedge)
Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Barca's Yamal rises to stardom in stellar year capped with title triumph
BARCELONA - Barcelona's 28th Spanish league title caps a remarkable season defined by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who at 17 has emerged as world football's most electrifying talent. Following in the footsteps of fellow graduates of Barca's La Masia academy Gavi and Ansu Fati, Yamal first made his mark internationally last summer, helping Spain win the European Championship. Since then, his mesmerizing performances have drawn comparisons to La Masia's greatest product, Lionel Messi. Yamal reached his 100th Barcelona appearance last month -three years younger than Messi was when he achieved the same feat - during a thrilling 3-3 draw with Inter Milan at Montjuic, where he became the youngest player ever to score in a Champions League semi-final. Record-breaking has become routine for Yamal. He became the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history last year with a stunning long-range shot against France that helped his side reach the final, where they beat England and he was named Young Player of the tournament. He is the youngest player to debut and score for Spain and in LaLiga, the Champions League and the Euros. He also holds the records for youngest player in a Clasico and youngest scorer in both the Super Cup and Copa del Rey. His performance against Inter Milan established him as a frontrunner for the 2025 Ballon d'Or award. Even as Barcelona narrowly missed reaching their first Champions League final in a decade - with Inter fighting back to win 4-3 in extra time in the second leg at San Siro - Yamal remained exceptional, repeatedly threatening to equalise in extra time only to be denied by goalkeeper Yann Sommer's saves and the woodwork. Yamal has been the heartbeat of Barcelona's attack this season with 15 LaLiga assists and 25 across all competitions, plus 17 goals in 53 appearances, including the first in the 2-0 win against Espanyol on Thursday that clinched Barca the title. His contributions helped Hansi Flick's Barcelona become an offensive juggernaut, with the attacking trio of Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha accounting for 91 of the team's 169 goals this season. As the campaign concludes, the football world watches to see what the young playmaker achieves next. His immediate challenge comes next month in Germany, where Spain will defend their Nations League title - another opportunity for Yamal to strengthen his case as the world's best player. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-Barca's Yamal rises to stardom in stellar year capped with title triumph
BARCELONA, - Barcelona's 28th Spanish league title caps a remarkable season defined by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who at 17 has emerged as world football's most electrifying talent. Following in the footsteps of fellow graduates of Barca's La Masia academy Gavi and Ansu Fati, Yamal first made his mark internationally last summer, helping Spain win the European Championship. Since then, his mesmerizing performances have drawn comparisons to La Masia's greatest product, Lionel Messi. Yamal reached his 100th Barcelona appearance last month -three years younger than Messi was when he achieved the same feat - during a thrilling 3-3 draw with Inter Milan at Montjuic, where he became the youngest player ever to score in a Champions League semi-final. Record-breaking has become routine for Yamal. He became the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history last year with a stunning long-range shot against France that helped his side reach the final, where they beat England and he was named Young Player of the tournament. He is the youngest player to debut and score for Spain and in LaLiga, the Champions League and the Euros. He also holds the records for youngest player in a Clasico and youngest scorer in both the Super Cup and Copa del Rey. His performance against Inter Milan established him as a frontrunner for the 2025 Ballon d'Or award. Even as Barcelona narrowly missed reaching their first Champions League final in a decade - with Inter fighting back to win 4-3 in extra time in the second leg at San Siro - Yamal remained exceptional, repeatedly threatening to equalise in extra time only to be denied by goalkeeper Yann Sommer's saves and the woodwork. Yamal has been the heartbeat of Barcelona's attack this season with 15 LaLiga assists and 25 across all competitions, plus 17 goals in 53 appearances, including the first in the 2-0 win against Espanyol on Thursday that clinched Barca the title. His contributions helped Hansi Flick's Barcelona become an offensive juggernaut, with the attacking trio of Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha accounting for 91 of the team's 169 goals this season. As the campaign concludes, the football world watches to see what the young playmaker achieves next. His immediate challenge comes next month in Germany, where Spain will defend their Nations League title - another opportunity for Yamal to strengthen his case as the world's best player.
