Five U-20 players to watch out for in 2025-26 Premier League season

The new English Premier League season is upon us with defending champion Liverpool set to get the ball rolling against Bournemouth on Friday.

Every season gives us wonderkids who grace the pitch with their fearlessness and go on to make impacts for their respective clubs.

Sportstar takes a look at some of these players who have the potential to shine for their clubs in the 2025-26 season and become starlets as the campaign progresses.

(This article is focussing on Under-20 players)

Max Dowman (Arsenal)

FILE PHOTO: Arsenal’s Max Dowman in action against AC Milan.
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REUTERS

Don’t let his age fool you.

At just 15, Max Dowman is perhaps Arsenal’s next hot prospect when it comes to its academy players. Last season in the Under-18 Premier League, the attacking midfielder racked up 15 goals and five assists in 15 games.

Senior team manager Mikel Arteta already handed him his debut when he came off the bench against AC Milan in a pre-season friendly. He played on the right wing in the matches against Milan and Tottenham Hotspur.

While Dowman’s minutes in the upcoming Premier League may be limited, Arteta — who in the past has favoured giving youngsters opportunities — might just give the player a taste of top-flight football.

Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool)

FILE PHOTO: Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha in action with Athletic Bilbao’s Andoni Gorosabel.
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REUTERS

It’s clear that Arne Slot rates 16-year-old forward Rio Ngumoha quite highly, for the Dutch manager gave the youngster his senior team debut start in the FA Cup fixture against Accrington Stanley earlier this year.

Ngumoha arrived from Chelsea last year and featured in the Reds’ youth teams. He scored his first goal in Liverpool colours during an Under-18 fixture against his former club.

He was part of the Liverpool first-team squad during the pre-season and even found the net against Stoke City in a friendly played at the club’s training centre.

Estevao Willian (Chelsea)

FILE PHOTO: Estevao celebrates scoring a goal for former side Palmeiras during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
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REUTERS

Estevao, 18, is the latest Brazilian talent to announce himself on the global stage.

Having signed for Chelsea in 2024, Estevao, who spent a season on loan at Palmeiras, gave a closer look at his talent when both the sides met during the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA last month.

The winger scored a superb goal in the Brazilian club’s defeat against the Blues before he switched over permanently.

The teen has wasted no time in pre-season and has already notched up a goal in the friendly against Bayer Leverkusen.

Joshua King (Fulham)

FILE PHOTO: Fulham’s Joshua King during the FA Cup Third Round match between Fulham and Watford.
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Getty Images

A product of the club’s academy, Josh King is touted to be Fulham’s next big thing. Only 18, the central midfielder recently penned a four-year deal.

King made his debut in the FA Cup and the Premier League last season and is expected to see game time in the new season under head coach Marco Silva.

El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham United)

FILE PHOTO: El Hadji Malick Diouf of West Ham United during the pre-season friendly match between West Ham United and Lille OSC.
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Getty Images

El Hadji Malick Diouf is on the verge of making his Premier League debut when West Ham opens its campaign against Sunderland.

The 20-year-old Senegal international usually operates on the left flank and is a defender who can find the net as well. Before joining the Hammers, he was with Slavia Prague where he scored seven goals last season in which the team lifted the Czech First League trophy.