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Discover the young players likely to be the next big thing in the 2025-26 campaign.
As most teams return for pre-season this month, there are a number of young diamonds who will be looking to shine during the 2025-26 campaign.
A lot of young players have so far shown great promise but there are a few wonderkids who could be the breakout stars next season.
Pulse Sports highlights the footballers who could be the next breakout stars in 2025/2026.
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7 Footballers Who Could Be The Next Breakout Starts in 2025/2026
Estevao
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The 18-year-old Brazilian winger is headed to Chelsea after the Club World Cup and has been showing fans why he has signed in a deal that could eventually be worth £52m.
Estevao has been a constant threat on the wings and scored in the 2-1 loss to Chelsea in the quarter-final on Saturday as his current side Palmeiras exited the Club World Cup.
His direct running and fearless approach makes him an exciting prospect that could light up the Premier League in 2025-26.
Bradley Barcola
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The 22-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward is another player who could light up next season given what has been witnessed so far.
Bradley Barcola has been used sparingly by coach Luis Enrique but he has fully utilized his minutes by showing why he is so highly rated with key goals and assists and now, PSG have a big battle to keep hold of him amid growing interest from Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Ayden Heaven
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Still a raw talent, Manchester United’s 18-year-old Ayden Heaven looks to be built for greatness.
Heaven is blessed with the pace, height and strength of a Premier League central defender and showed his fearlessness in the few games he was afforded by coach Ruben Amorim last season.
2025-26 looks to be his breakout year and he will benefit from the fact that Amorim plays three at the back, which means less competition for him in the wake of Victor Lindelof’s departure and the injuries of Lisandro Martinez.
Franco Mastantuono
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The 17-year-old Arginine midfielder is set to leave River Plate for Real Madrid and he has the attitude and swagger of a Galactico.
Despite his young age, River will receive 45m euros for the attacking midfielder who will be registered as a La Liga player when he turns 18 in August, and Los Blancos fans can expect flair and goals from the youngster, dubbed the next Lionel Messi.
Tom Bischof
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A new Bayern Munich signing, 19-year-old Tom Bischof featured for Hoffenheim since the age of 16 and impressed in the Bundesliga in 2024/25 to earn his big move to Bavaria.
Bischof demonstrated his creative prowess with 21 goals and 16 assists for Hoffenheim's U17, U19 and reserves while making history as the club's youngest Bundesliga debutant and third-youngest of any team, aged 16 years and 264 days, in March 2022
Giovanni Leoni
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The Parma defender is attracting interest from Liverpool, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus with his club demanding €30 million and there are good reasons for that.
This off the back of an absolutely outstanding campaign. Particularly the second half of the season, in which Leoni was integral to Parma’s successful stay in the Serie A.
Marc Bernal
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The Barcelona academy La Masia is famous for producing gems and 18-year-old defensive midfielder Marc Bernal is the next big thing from the talent factory.
Coach Hansi Flick has successfully integrated young players into the Barcelona team with 17-year-old Lamine Yamal now a global superstar and there is confidence that Bernal is the next one.
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