This summer, Europe’s leading football nations will collide in Germany at Euro 2024. And while the more experienced and established players will be crucial for their respective countries, there are a lot of young talents who will be keen to impress, and it’s they who could make the difference between success and failure.

Jude Bellingham

There’s only one player to start this list with, and that’s Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham. The twenty-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top after a hugely successful spell with German giants Borussia Dortmund led Madrid to acquire his services in a big money move. The attacking midfielder scores goals and is a natural in the final third. With England the favourites in the 2024 Euros betting markets to win the whole thing, Gareth Southgate will be hoping Bellingham transfers his club form to the international scene this summer.

 

Lamine Yamal

La Masia has a habit of producing amazing talents, and it looks like Barcelona have another on their hands in winger Lamine Yamal. Believe it or not, Yamal has racked up over forty senior appearances for his club already at the age of sixteen, and he’s got six Spain caps to his name, too. Yamal is now regularly involved with the senior Spain set-up, and he will go to Euro 2024. His youthful exuberance could be just what the Spanish are looking for, be it as a starter or from the bench in Germany.

Kenan Yildiz

Kenan Yildiz, 18, is a German-born Turkish attacker who currently plies his trade with Juventus in Serie A. He started his youth career in Germany, moving to Bayern Munich’s academy before making the switch to Juventus, and has registered twenty-two appearances for the first team this season. Like Yamal, Yildiz has a handful of full international caps to his name and will head to Germany, the place of his birth, as part of Turkey’s squad. He’s likely to start on the bench, but give him a chance to impress, and he’ll take it and could force his way into the starting XI.

Rasmus Hojlund

Rasmus Hojlund may only be twenty-one years old, but he showed enough at Atalanta that Manchester United spent big money on him last summer. A slow start in the Premier League was quickly forgotten about when he went on a great goalscoring run, and he, and Denmark, will be hoping he finds that form again heading into the summer. He’s the chief goal-getter for his nation, with seven goals to his name from twelve caps. An in-form Hojlund at the Euros will make the Danish a team to fear.

Xavi Simons

Xavis Simons, 20, has had an interesting rise in football. The Dutchman started in Barcelona’s youth team, was acquired by PSG, left PSG for PSV, was resigned by PSG from PSV, and then immediately loaned out to RB Leipzig. The attacking midfielder did the business in the Eredivisie with PSV, and the challenge was to do it in one of the top five leagues, which he’s accomplishing in the Bundesliga with Leipzig. He’s a regular for the Netherlands, too, with thirteen full caps, and his pace, alongside his agility and dribbling skills, will be key.