The year 2025 spans two seasons, during which numerous young talents shone brightly in the second half of the previous season and the first half of the current one. Camel Live has selected the 10 best Rising stars of the year (focusing on players aged 20 and under). It should be noted that players who have already won the Golden Boy Award or been nominated for the Ballon d'Or multiple times, such as Yamal, Bellingham, and Pedri, are not included in the selection.
1.Désiré Doué (PSG / France)
In the summer transfer window of 2024, Désiré Doué joined PSG for €50 million. As a young player at the time, he had no idea he was about to shock all of Europe.
On December 15th, against Lyon, he first provided an assist and then won a penalty, earning him the Man of the Match award for his performance. As the season progressed, his status in the team rose. In March, he scored three goals and provided two assists in Ligue 1, being named Man of the Match in those games.
In the Champions League, he first scored the equalizer against Aston Villa in the first leg of the quarter-finals, then started as the right winger in both legs of the semi-finals. In the Champions League final, he showcased his talent to the world for the first time: he first assisted Achraf Hakimi to score the opening goal, then scored twice himself to help PSG win their first Champions League title. He also became the youngest player in Champions League history to score a brace in the final and the youngest assist provider in the final.
At the end of the league season, he was named both the Young Player of the Year and included in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year at the 2025 UNFP awards. Although his team lost to Chelsea in 2025 Club World Cup final, he was awarded the Best Young Player of the tournament. He also won the 2025 Golden Boy Award.
2.Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona / Spain)
Pau Cubarsí's career began at Girona before moving to Barcelona in 2018. He made his first-team debut in 2024, but 2025 undoubtedly saw him become the brightest U19 player in Europe. That season, the defensive partnership between him and Martínez established itself as one of the best in Europe.
On February 26th, in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals, Cubarsí scored his first senior goal to help Barcelona draw 4-4 with Atlético Madrid at home. On April 10th, in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, the then 18-year-old and 77-day-old Kubarsi provided his first Champions League assist, becoming the youngest defender to assist in the Champions League, helping Barcelona beat Borussia Dortmund 4-0.
That season, he won the La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup with the team, and helped them reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they were eventually eliminated by Inter Milan 7-6 on aggregate. At the end of the year, he was included in the 25-man shortlist for the Golden Boy Award.
3. Kenan Yıldız (Juventus / Turkey)
Yıldız came through Bayern Munich's youth academy. His contract with Bayern expired in July 2022, and Barcelona and Juventus fiercely competed for his signature. On July 12th, Juventus confirmed the signing of Yıldız.
The 2024/25 season was a period of rapid growth for YIldiz. He scored 7 goals and provided 7 assists in 25 games, and gradually became Juventus' attacking core as the season progressed. On January 11th, 2025, in the derby against Torino, he dribbled past several opponents at the start and scored with his left foot from outside the penalty area. This goal was named the Goal of the Season for 2024/25 at the end of the season. In the 2025 Club World Cup, he scored three goals in the first two group stage games.
Notably, Juventus fans believe his playing style is similar to that of club legend Alessandro Del Piero. However, his contract expiring in 2027 has seen him remain on the radar of top clubs such as Chelsea and Arsenal.
4. Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal / England)
Lewis-Skelly graduated from Arsenal's youth academy. The 2024/25 season was his first with the Arsenal first team. When Arsenal faced a severe injury crisis in defense, the midfielder was promoted to the starting left-back position by Mikel Arteta.
On February 3rd, 2025, in the 24th round of the Premier League, Lewis-Skelly scored in the 62nd minute and mimicked Erling Haaland's celebration, helping Arsenal beat Manchester City 5-1 at home. This was his first goal for the Arsenal first team. On April 9th, 2025, in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, Lewis-Skelly assisted Merino to score, helping Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0, and became the second youngest English player to start a Champions League quarter-final.
On March 14th, 2025, Lewis-Skelly was called up to the England senior national team for the first time. On March 22nd, in the first round of the group stage of the first phase of the World Cup European Qualifiers, the 18-year-old and 176-day-old Lewis-Skelly made his debut for the England senior team, becoming the second youngest Arsenal player to represent England. He scored in the 20th minute, becoming the youngest player in England's history to score on his debut. However, in the 2025/26 season, due to questions about his defensive abilities and two red cards last season, he was reduced to a substitute, making only 13 appearances in all competitions.
5. Estevão Willian (Palmeiras / Chelsea / Brazil)
Estevão came through Palmeiras' youth academy. On June 22nd, 2024, Chelsea officially announced that they had signed the Brazilian prodigy for a base fee of €34 million plus €23 million in add-ons, beating out numerous top European clubs. They also announced that he would officially join Chelsea's first team in the 2025/26 season.
In the 2025 Club World Cup, Palmeiras faced Chelsea in the quarter-finals. With his team trailing, Estevão scored an equalizer against his future club with a powerful right-footed shot from almost a 0-degree angle in the 53rd minute, although Palmeiras ultimately lost the game.
On October 4th, at Stamford Bridge against Liverpool, he calmly scored his first Chelsea goal in the 95th minute, receiving a cross from Marc Cucurella to help the team win 2-1. On November 25th, he scored a goal after dribbling past several players in a 3-0 Champions League win over Barcelona, becoming the third teenager after Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland to score in each of their first three Champions League starts.
6. Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid / Spain)
Huijsen graduated from Juventus' youth academy and made his Serie A debut in the 2023/24 season. After a six-month loan spell at Roma, Juventus sold him to Premier League club Bournemouth.
Bournemouth were undoubtedly one of the unignorable teams in the Premier League in the 2024/25 season. The defensive partnership between Huijsen and Zabarnyi conceded very few goals, and he gradually established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League that year, attracting interest from clubs such as Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Manchester United. In the 2024/25 season, Huijsen made 36 appearances for Bournemouth, scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists, and was named Bournemouth's Player of the Season.
On May 17th, 2025, Real Madrid officially announced the signing of Huijsen on a five-year contract. His interception ability and ball-playing skills have made him a regular starter for both Real Madrid and the Spain national team. On March 21st, 2025, in the first leg of the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, Spain drew 2-2 with the Netherlands away from home. Huijsen came off the bench in the first half to make his debut for the Spain national team and went on to win the UEFA Nations League runner-up with the team that year.
7. Arda Güler (Real Madrid / Turkey)
Güler came through Fenerbahçe's youth academy. On July 6th, 2023, Real Madrid signed the Turkish international for €20 million plus €10 million in add-ons.
In the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, as a young player under Carlo Ancelotti, Güler had very few playing opportunities and was low in the pecking order. However, after Xabi Alonso took over, Güler's technical characteristics saw him become a starter overnight. On June 23rd, in the second round of the Club World Cup group stage, the then 20-year-old and 117-day-old Güler scored, becoming Real Madrid's youngest goalscorer in the Club World Cup, helping Real Madrid beat Pachuca 3-1. On July 6th, in the Club World Cup quarter-finals, Güler provided an assist to help Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2.
In the 2025/26 season, having become a starter, he has made 16 appearances so far, scoring 3 goals and providing 6 assists, matching his statistics from last season. His consistent performances have also continued to contribute to the national team.
8. Senny Mayulu (PSG / France)
Mayulu graduated from PSG's youth academy. Although he made his club debut in 2023, he only established himself in the club's regular rotation in the 2024/25 season.
Playing as an attacking midfielder, Mayulu made 20 appearances for PSG in the 2024/25 season. On February 20th, 2025, in the second leg of the Champions League knockout round play-offs, Mayulu scored in the 86th minute, helping PSG beat Brestois 7-0 at home to advance to the round of 16. At 18 years and 9 months old, he became the youngest goalscorer in PSG's Champions League knockout history. On June 1st of the same year, in the Champions League final, Mayulu scored in the 86th minute, becoming the 11th French player to score in a Champions League final. PSG eventually defeated Inter Milan 5-0 to win the Champions League title.
In the 2025/26 season, under Luis Enrique's guidance, he has received more playing opportunities. He has made 13 appearances in the first half of the season, scoring 2 goals and providing 2 assists, including an equalizer against Barcelona in the second round of the Champions League group stage on October 2nd, helping PSG beat Barcelona 2-1. In 2026, he may become a very bright star in Europe.
9. Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City / England)
O'Reilly came through Manchester City's youth academy and was officially promoted to the first team in the 2024/25 season. Originally an attacking midfielder, he was converted to left-back by Pep Guardiola.
In 2025, with Manchester City short of left-backs, he began to get playing opportunities and put in several mature performances in April. On April 12th, O'Reilly scored his first Premier League goal at home against Crystal Palace, helping Manchester City win 5-2.
In the 2025/26 season, he not only won a five-year contract with Manchester City but also was called up to the England senior team for the first time on October 6th, 2025, making his debut for the England senior team against Serbia and helping the team win 2-0. He scored his first Champions League goal in a 2-1 away win over Real Madrid on December 10th. Now he has become a regular starter for Manchester City and has also been shortlisted for the 2025 Golden Boy Award.
10. Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal / England)
Nwaneri also graduated from Arsenal's youth academy. In the 2022/23 season, he came off the bench against Brentford in the Premier League, becoming the youngest player in Premier League history.
However, he only established himself in Arsenal's regular matchday squad in the 2024/25 season. He scored his first Premier League goal in a 3-0 home win over Nottingham Forest on November 23rd, 2024, when he was substituted in the 82nd minute. This made him the ninth youngest goalscorer in league history at 17 years and 247 days old. On January 4th, 2025, Nwaneri scored in a 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion, becoming the third player after Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney to score at least five goals in a single season before turning 18. On January 29th of the same month, he scored his first Champions League goal in a 2-1 away win over Girona. Four days later, on February 2nd, Nwaneri scored the fifth and final goal with a curved shot from outside the penalty area in stoppage time, helping the team beat Manchester City 5-1.
However, in the 2025/26 season, with the arrival of Eberechi Eze, he has gradually faded out of Arsenal's regular matchday squad. Compared to his brilliance in the first half of the year, he now seems to be at a crossroads in his career.
