The Under-21 European Championships have been a breeding ground for future stars, as evidenced by the likes of Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, and Rayan Cherki who all rose to prominence in the 2023 edition. The tournament in Slovakia during the past month has once again showcased a new generation of players that have marked themselves as ones to watch.
Nick Woltemade, a Germany forward, was the top scorer in Slovakia with six goals and was the joint-top assister with three. His performances during the tournament highlighted his potential to excel at a higher level. The 23-year-old, who enjoyed a breakthrough season with Stuttgart, has already earned two caps for the senior national side. His form for both club and country has attracted interest from Premier League side Chelsea.
Charlie Cresswell, a centre-back for Ligue 1 side Toulouse, demonstrated his prowess in Slovakia with his near-faultless performances. The 22-year-old played every minute of the tournament for England as they retained their title, averaging 8.67 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, and totalling 52 over the course of the competition – more than any other player. Cresswell's performances have caught the attention of England's senior squad, which has been thin on ground in defensive areas since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel.
Geovany Quenda, a 18-year-old midfielder, capped a promising breakthrough season at Sporting with an impressive stint on the international stage. Quenda, who will join Chelsea for a fee of up to £44m, scored three goals and provided two assists for Portugal, who were knocked out in the quarter-finals by the Netherlands. His performances earned him the player-of-the-match trophy in two of the four games he played.
Djaoui Cisse, a central midfielder for Rennes, was a key player in a France side that reached the semi-finals. The 21-year-old broke into the first team of his club in the second half of the 2024-25 season and didn't look back. He scored three goals, provided one assist, and had 91.75% passing accuracy throughout the tournament.
Luka Kharatishvili, a 22-year-old goalkeeper for Dinamo Batumi in Georgia, was the standout performer for his country during the tournament. Despite conceding eight goals in three games, his superb saves kept things from getting worse for Georgia. His performances earned him plaudits, including a contender for save of the tournament.
These players, along with many others, have left their mark on the Euro U21 Championship, making them ones to watch in the future.
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