GOAL runs through the most talented players who will be aiming to inspire their countries to glory in Slovakia this summer
Two years ago, England won their maiden Under-21 European Championship title in Georgia and Romania, after beating Spain 1-0 in the final courtesy of a deflected Cole Palmer free-kick. The Young Lions will hope luck shines on them again when the 2025 tournament kicks off this week, with Spain expected to be an even stronger proposition this time around while the likes of Portugal, Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands are also in good shape for deep runs.
Each country has submitted a 23-man list of players for the tournament, with those born on or after January 1, 2002, eligible for selection. This means there will be a healthy blend of youthful exuberance and experience in Slovakia, with some players aiming to make an impact on the international stage for the first time while others bid to take their next step in their fledgling careers.
But who should you be watching out for? GOAL has the lowdown on six potential superstars of the future…
Getty Images SportEthan Nwaneri (England)
Ethan Nwaneri broke into the England U21s squad in March, and could hardly have made a better first impression on manager Lee Carsley, scoring on his full debut in a 4-2 victory against Portugal. "We have to keep remembering he's 18. Unbelievable, isn't it?" Carsley said after the game, but Arsenal fans wouldn't have been surprised by Nwaneri's performance.
The Gunners' youngest player of all time became a regular for Mikel Arteta's side last season as he benefited from an injury crisis that saw Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz all ruled out for long periods. Nwaneri recorded 11 goal contributions in 37 appearances across all competitions, and if he can transfer that form to the international stage again, England will have a great chance of defending their title.
It's already fair to say that Nwaneri is among the most talented players the Three Lions have ever produced. He's a smooth technical operator who is versatile enough to thrive in both wide and central positions, and if England's opponents give him too much room on his left side, Nwaneri can decide any game with a curling shot that is fast becoming his trademark.
AdvertisementAFPGeovany Quenda (Portugal)
There was a lot of excitement generated by Chelsea's £44 million ($60m) capture of Geovany Quenda in March, and the hype was justified. Quenda broke Cristiano Ronaldo’s record as the youngest goal-scorer in Sporting CP's history last October (at 17 years, five months and 27 days), and has only gone from strength to strength since then, despite having to adapt his game after Ruben Amorim's exit for Manchester United.
Under new Sporting coach Rui Borges, Quenda has played in several different roles, gradually evolving into a forward-thinking right-back who thrives in one-on-one situations. The 18-year-old's pace and deceptive strength make him a formidable defender, and in attack, he is a constant menace with an eye for killer passes.
“I see similarities with Lamine Yamal,” Sporting assistant Tiago Teixeira told in March, and there are few bigger compliments than that. Quenda may well be widely considered as being in the same bracket as Yamal by the time he arrives at Chelsea in 2026, having already received two call-ups to the Portugal senior team, and his presence alone makes the U21s one of the favourites in Slovakia this summer.
Getty Images SportThierno Barry (France)
Thierno Barry made the jump to one of Europe's top five leagues last summer when swapping Basel for Villarreal, and made the transition look easy. The 22-year-old forward played a key role in Villarreal's run to a top-five finish in La Liga, contributing 11 goals and four assists to their cause while striking up a fearsome partnership with Alex Baena.
Barry gave Villarreal the extra dimension upfront they needed to return to the Champions League, proving to be a major handful both with the ball at his feet and in the air. Few defenders in Spain were able to compete with Barry physically, and his ruthless finishing skills should help France go far at the U21 Euros.
This is shaping up to be a huge summer for Barry, who has a €40m (£34m/$46m) release clause in his contract at Villarreal, and it has been reported that Everton are eager to bring in the Frenchman as their new No.1 striker. A decisive showing in Slovakia could seal a dream move to the Premier League for the youngster ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Getty ImagesConrad Harder (Denmark)
Manchester United, Chelsea and Juventus have all been linked with Conrad Harder in recent months, with the Scandinavian sharpshooter inevitably drawing comparisons to Erling Haaland after a breakthrough campaign at Sporting CP. The Portuguese giants snapped Harder up from Nordsjaelland in 2024 for €19m (£16m/$22m) and he's reportedly worth four times that amount now, having been one of the most consistent performers in the squad last season.
Harder is an explosive striker who likes to shoot early and runs himself into the ground for the collective cause. Goal machine Viktor Gyokeres stole most of the headlines in Sporting's latest title-winning campaign, but Harder also weighed in with a combined 23 goals and assists across all competitions, and is arguably a more well-rounded centre forward than the Swede already.
Denmark even handed Harder his international debut in March, and it has been suggested he could usurp Rasmus Hojlund as the focal point in the team if he continues on his current trajectory. Harder is still very much a raw talent at 20, but inspiring the U21s to the latter stages of the Euros would be a significant first step towards achieving that.