The 2026 Golden Boy shortlist has been announced, with Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, Manchester City’s Ayyoub Bouaddi and Chelsea’s Estêvão among the 25 finalists. They are three of eight Premier League nominees, giving the English top flight almost a third of the contenders for Tuttosport’s annual award recognising the best under-21 player competing in European football.
Lewis-Skelly’s nomination recognises his performances for Arsenal and England during 2026. The academy graduate features alongside some of Europe’s most highly regarded young players, providing another milestone in his development at the Emirates. Arsenal confirmed his inclusion on 5 October.
Bouaddi brings a different development path to the shortlist. The Morocco international joined Manchester City from Lille during the summer and has entered the final selection following his emergence as one of European football’s most closely watched young midfielders. His move to England gives him a new environment in which to build on the promise that attracted City’s interest.
Estêvão adds to Chelsea’s representation alongside Dutch defender Jorrel Hato. The Brazilian winger’s nomination places him in a field that includes players with contrasting roles and backgrounds, from attacking prospects to defenders already making an impression at senior level.
The Premier League’s representation extends beyond Arsenal, City and Chelsea. Bournemouth’s Rayan and Eli Junior Kroupi are also nominated, as are Brighton’s Luka Vušković and Charalampos Kostoulas. Those selections give five English clubs a presence on the shortlist and underline the range of young talent competing in the division.
Across Europe, Barcelona lead the club representation with three finalists: Pau Cubarsí, Marc Bernal and Xavi Espart. Cubarsí is among the prominent contenders, while Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande and Endrick, Paris Saint-Germain’s Warren Zaïre-Emery and Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl add further depth to the field.
What makes this year’s shortlist intriguing is the balance between players already carrying substantial senior responsibilities and those still establishing their roles. The nominations recognise their progress, but they are not a guarantee of future success. For Lewis-Skelly, Bouaddi and Estêvão, the next challenge is to sustain the performances that have brought them into the conversation.
First presented in 2003, Golden Boy reaches its 24th edition in 2026—not its 16th. This year’s shortlist offers another snapshot of the emerging generation, with the Premier League strongly represented but facing competition from young players across Europe’s leading clubs.
