15 Best U21 English Players in World Football (2024)

English football has produced some incredible players over the years. From the likes of Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton, who helped deliver the 1966 World Cup, to the Golden Generation of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, and co.

As things stand, the current crop has some very special names too. Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka immediately spring to mind. Before long, this modern era will be boosted by a few more shining lights. Jude Bellingham, for instance, has already established himself as a key man in the Three Lions setup, while breakout Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo looks destined for a notable international career.

This leads to a key question: Who are the best under-21 England players right now? With one eye naturally drawn to the 2026 World Cup, here’s a closer look at the best young talents in the country right now who may feature in the tournaments of the future.

Ranking Factors

• Senior club appearances
• Senior England appearances
• Transfer value
• Importance to their team
• Appearances in European competitions
• Potential

15 James Trafford (21)

Burnley

James Trafford earned a reputation as one of the best young goalkeepers in the country after an impressive loan spell at Bolton Wanderers, followed up with a stunning set of displays for England at the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Across the six matches at the tournament, he didn’t concede a single goal and even saved a stoppage-time penalty in the final against Spain.

Following his summer triumph, Trafford sealed a £15m move to Burnley from Manchester City. It’s been a difficult time for him since then, however, losing his place in the starting XI as the Clarets dropped into the Championship.

14 Alex Scott (21)

Bournemouth

Alex Scott’s lofty reputation was reflected by the £25m fee Bournemouth splashed on the former Bristol City midfielder in the summer of 2023. Injury has prevented him from showing his absolute best for the Cherries so far, but he offered flickers and flashes of his abundant talent.

On a rare Premier League start during his debut season, Scott slalomed between a queue of Fulham players, dancing his way into the box before teeing up Justin Kluivert for a simple finish. Songs perennially sagging around his ankles, there is an innate charm to the midfielder’s languid style. Whether he can convince Andoni Iraola to make him a first-team regular remains to be seen.

13 Carney Chukwuemeka (20)

Chelsea

Aston Villa clearly thought very highly of Carney Chukwuemeka as they handed him a Premier League debut when he was still only 17. Chelsea were obviously aware of his talents too, as they convinced him to head to west London in the summer of 2022.

Unfortunately, fitness issues have slowed his momentum with the Blues so far, but his quality has shone through in glimpses. Chukwuemeka won the trust of Mauricio Pochettino too, starting the first two Premier League games of the 2023/24 season (scoring in one) before getting injured. If he can keep himself healthy, Chukwuemeka could earn the faith of Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge.

12 Lewis Hall (20)

Newcastle United

One of several Newcastle starlets, Lewis Hall completed a permanent move to the north in the summer after the Magpies fulfilled the £35m obligation to buy clause in the deal with Chelsea. Many at Stamford Bridge weren’t happy to see the talented left-back leave, and it’s easy to understand why.

Although he’s been used sparingly by Eddie Howe so far, the versatile left-footer may very well become a crucial member of the squad across a wide range of positions. The boyhood Newcastle fan, who went on his first tour of St James’ Park as a three-year-old, has had to be patient, but his potential is undoubted.

11 Lewis Miley (18)

Newcastle United

Often a young player needs to be in the right place at the right time to break into the senior team and this has very much been the case for Lewis Miley. Still only 18, the young midfielder has already starred in some vital games for Newcastle – including Champions League ties against Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund.

As talented as he is, Miley may not have gotten his chance had Sandro Tonali not been hit with a 10-month ban in August 2023 for betting before an injury crisis swept across the rest of the senior squad. Even so, the teenager has taken it with both hands and looks set to be a star man at the Magpies for many years to come.

10 Archie Gray (18)

Tottenham

In the face of a bubbling mutiny from the fanbase, Leeds United felt compelled to release a statement explaining why they had let Archie Gray join Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2024. The Yorkshire giants described themselves as “heartbroken” to lose one of the club’s most exciting academy products in recent memory.

The great-nephew and son of two former Leeds players, Gray had already amassed more than 50 senior appearances in all-white before Spurs triggered a release clause worth between £25m and £30m. Comfortable in a range of positions, lining up anywhere between the middle of the backline and attacking midfield, the upright 18-year-old could become a staple of Ange Postecoglou’s side for the next decade before even reaching his peak.

9 Jarell Quansah (21)

Liverpool

Jarell Quansah has lofty ambitions. “I’ve always wanted to be the best in the world in my position,” the prodigious Liverpool centre-back told The Times, “and so I’m striving for that, and it doesn’t matter how long it takes, I’m not going to get too disheartened.” That mental fortitude was required in the first game of the 2024/25 season. Quansah lined up next to Virgil van Dijk for Arne Slot’s debut, but sat on the bench for the second half, losing his starting spot inside 45 minutes.

Despite his youth, Quansah did not overreact. “I know what I need to do and hopefully I keep improving,” he wisely noted. Ushered into Liverpool’s first team during Jurgen Klopp’s final campaign, there will plenty of time for the young defender to prove why his first manager hailed him as “special”.

8 Adam Wharton (20)

Crystal Palace

Premier League fans only got their first glimpse of what Adam Wharton is all about in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign following his mid-season move from Blackburn Rovers. By the summer, he was an unexpected selection in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad. The rapid ascent even took his family by surprise. “He’s sat next to Harry Kane for breakfast,” Wharton’s father breathlessly pointed out ahead of the tournament.

Boasting remarkable ease in possession and a refreshingly progressive approach to passing, Wharton offers a unique playing profile for a national team which too often lacks penetration. Crystal Palace have certainly reaped the rewards of Whaton’s particular set of skills.

7 Levi Colwill (21)

Chelsea

Under the in-fighting BlueCo partnership, the Chelsea project appears to have involved spending an awful lot of money on some of the best youngsters in the game. The likes of Moises Caicedo, Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez have all come in for fees nearing or above £100m. In the case of Levi Colwill, however, the free-spending owners inherited the English centre-back and have had the good sense to keep him around.

The 21-year-old captained the England U21s to glory for the 2023 European triumph and has since made his senior debut for the Three Lions. That he played left-back on that special day and has played that role under Pochettino, goes to show his versatility. After serving an apprenticeship alongside the legendary Thiago Silva, Colwill appears destined for big things.

6 Tino Livramento (21)

Newcastle United

The second Newcastle United fullback who came up through the Chelsea academy, Tino Livramento took a slightly different route to the Magpies than Lewis Hall. Indeed, the young fullback spent a few seasons at Southampton before moving to the North East.

After impressing with the Saints in his debut campaign, an ACL injury kept him sidelined for about a year, but this wasn’t enough to put off Newcastle, who picked him up in the summer of 2023. Still only 21, he has forced his way beyond Kieran Trippier at St James’ Park and has his sights set on supplanting Kyle Walker at international level.

5 Jamie Gittens (20)

Borussia Dortmund

For those who don’t pay attention to football outside the Premier League, Jamie Gittens might not be a familiar name. Even those with a passing interest in the Bundesliga may be slightly confused as the English forward has opted to drop his double-barrelled surname Bynoe-Gittens going forward. Following the same path as Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham, the winger left England for Borussia Dortmund and has already seen plenty of first-team action.

Only recently out of his teens, Gittens has surpassed 60 appearances for the Bundesliga club. And with a goal to his name in the Champions League, the fleet-footed wide man has already delivered on one of the biggest stages of all.

4 Harvey Elliott (21)

Liverpool

Seeing as he made his Premier League debut aged 16 years and 30 days (the youngest-ever at the time, although later beaten by Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri), it feels as though Harvey Elliott has been around forever. And considering some of the youth Liverpool have leaned upon in recent years, the 21-year-old may well be one of the more senior players around at Anfield.

Elliott has already played over 100 times for the Reds, helping them win the League Cup twice, as well as the Club World Cup. He was also part of the England side to lift the Euro U21 trophy. It’s somewhat baffling he’s not played for the senior team intentionally yet, but a first call-up is surely on the horizon.

3 Rico Lewis (19)

Manchester City

There aren’t many teenagers who could convince Pep Guardiola (in the middle of a treble-winning season, no less) that they are good enough to become a regular in his team. But Manchester City starlet Rico Lewis isn’t like many teenagers.

Now 19 years of age, he featured in 23 games while City marched to glory in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. In a squad packed full of talent, he’s probably not started as many games as he would have hoped over the subsequent years, which prevents him from ranking any higher – but he is still easily one of England’s most exciting teenagers.

2 Kobbie Mainoo (19)

Manchester United

It may feel as though Kobbie Mainoo’s rise in football has been overnight, but those at Manchester United have long-viewed the young midfielder as a potential superstar for the future. Had it not been for an ankle injury suffered while impressing in the 2023/24 pre-season, the teenage phenom may well have stolen headlines a lot sooner than he did.

Mainoo won February Goal of the Month with his dazzling solo effort against Wolves, and after starring in Man United’s thrilling FA Cup win over Liverpool, Southgate had little choice but to promote him to the senior England squad. It’s impressive for any 19-year-old to shine so brightly in the English top flight, but to do it with such calm in this chaotic Erik ten Hag squad suggests Mainoo is a special player.

1 Jude Bellingham (21)

Real Madrid

There was only ever going to be one winner on this list. Not only is Jude Bellingham the best young Englishman in the country, as the reigning Kopa Trophy holder, he is the best U21 footballer in the world, full stop.

After leading Real Madrid to glory in La Liga and the Champions League – boasting an outrageous 23-goal haul from midfield in his debut season – as well as helping England reach the final of Euro 2024, he is rightly considered to be a strong contender for the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Bellingham isn’t destined for the top, he is already there.

All stats from Transfermarkt. Correct as of 10th September 2024.