It’s the richest and most watched sports league on the planet and it’s almost every player’s aim to test themselves in the Premier League, and there are plenty of young stars living that dream right now.
And six of them have been nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award, to be announced at a ceremony in the football hotbed of Manchester on 19th August. The summer transfer window is already in full swing and two of the nominees have already been snapped up by the big guns of European football, while Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have two nominees of their own.
Let’s take a look at these young stars, with the world at their feet and a shot at a prestigious title in just two months time.
Liam Delap: Chelsea
With 12 goals in the Premier League last term, Delap was a shining light in Ipswich Town’s brave survival attempt. But when the Tractor Boys fell just short there was little doubt the 22 year old would be snapped up, either in the English top flight or elsewhere in Europe. And it was Chelsea who jumped the queue to wrap up a £30m deal to bring Delap to Stamford Bridge on a six year contract.
He’s come a long way in a short space of time, from the Manchester City academy where he played with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, and Delap had loan spells at Championship clubs Stoke City and Hull City before moving to Ipswich last summer. At 6ft 1in he is a strong presence and has a cool head in front of goal, and he made a good start in his career with the Blues, making an assist in their Club World Cup match against Los Angeles.
The Premier League 2025 betting odds, here at SBOTOP, say the Blues are a decent bet to match or even better their fourth placed finish and Delap will hope to play his part.
Dean Huijsen: Real Madrid
Another young star who had already made a move is former Bournemouth centre back Huijsen, who has completed a transfer to Real Madrid after Los Blancos triggered the Cherries release clause of £50m. The former Juventus academy player put in some superb performances and, at 6ft 5in, he is a towering presence. Faced by Chris Wood on his debut in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, Huijsen won nine aerial duels and that set the tone for an incredible campaign on the South Coast. Now he has earned his place in Madrid and is already a full Spain international. At just 20 years of age this boy is pure gold.
Milos Kerkez: Bournemouth
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola is bracing himself for another big defensive loss as 2025 Champions Liverpool are weighing up a move for his 21 year old left wingback Kerkez. The Hungarian international has made 66 appearances for Bournemouth since his arrival from AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands. Twice voted the club’s Player of the Month and winner of the Goal of the Month for November, Kerkez is an exciting talent with a strong defensive instinct as well as lighting pace and a superb delivery.
Morgan Rogers: Aston Villa
Another player who has made more than his fair share of Premier League 2025 highlights is a second Manchester City academy star, the 22 year old attacking midfielder Rogers. The Villans picked him up after an eye-catching season at Middlesbrough last term, at a fee reported to be £8m rising to £15m. And that price already looks to be a bargain after Rogers scored 14 goals and made 15 assists in all competitions, as Villa shone in the Premier League and Europe, narrowly missing out on a return to the Champions League.
He has already made four appearances for the full England side and Unai Emery will give Rogers a big role to play again this season. As the most prolific creative contributor in this six, Rogers has a good chance of lifting the trophy in August.
Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri: Arsenal
The two babies of the six nominees both had breakout seasons at Arsenal, as the Gunners went deep into the Champions League and finished second in the Premier League. 18 year old Myles Lewis-Skelly can play at left back or in midfield and he scored on his England debut against Albania this year. And he is joined by another young England U21 star, the 17 year old winger Ethan Nwaneri. He too is adaptable and can play on the flank or in an inverted position, and Nwaneri scored nine times in 37 matches for the Gunners last term. The future is bright at the Emirates if these two are anything to go by.
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