By Michael Rietdyk

There are some incredible young footballers emerging. The majority of major clubs in Europe aren’t holding back on releasing their talents into the senior game, far too many to name. Here’s my choices to who will make it to the big stage:

Gianluigi Donnarumma

At the age of 14, Gianluigi Donnarumma was signed for €250,000 by AC Milan, the team his elder brother Antonio had already played for. Standing tall at 6ft 4in, he is an incredible goalkeeping talent who has already secured his place as Milan’s number one.

The 17 year old has been long considered one of Italy’s most exciting prospects, Donnarumma is widely regarded as the successor to Gianluigi Buffon. Buffon praised the teenager’s physical and technical abilities, mental composure and decision making. He communicates with great authority to his defensive line and is particularly agile for his huge frame.

“A youth system produces one goalkeeper in a million like Donnarumma.” Former Milan defender Filippo Galli, head of the Rossoneri’s youth system.

Unbelievable potential.

Breel Embolo

In June 2016, Breel Embolo was described by FourFourTwo as “one of Europe’s hottest prospects”.

Not many 19 year old footballers have around 100 club career appearance, Embolo is certainly one of them. The left footed, Swiss international has 15 caps and two goals for his country. The youngster signed for German side Schalke for 20m euros plus add ons, after performing for Basel and the Swiss national team for a number of seasons.

UEFA.com writer, Steffen Potter, praised Embolo as a complete striker: “He is powerful, technically strong and decisive. He has explosive pace and is a composed finisher”. He likes to lurk between defenders using his physical prowess to get the ball under and play. Embolo can also play roles in midfield and on the wing, proving he’s very much an excellent all-round footballer.

Certainly one to watch.

Martin Ødegaard

Martin Ødegaad joined Real Madrid at the start of 2015, just after turning 16. He became a world renowned phenomenon just a year earlier with Strømsgodset in his native Norway. Unsurprisingly, before his multimillion euro deal, Ødegaard trained with first teams at Bayern Munich and the top four in England.

Nearly two years after he signed for a reported fee of 4-8.5m euros, he made his first professional ever start for Real Madrid playing a full 90 minutes in the Copa del Rey. The 17 year old attacking midfielder who can dribble, pass and shoot, already has eight caps for his country.

Lee Seung-woo

Dubbed as the new Lionel Messi, the South Korean forward was just 13 when he scored 39 goals in 29 games for Barcelona’s Infantil A team, breaking a record set by Messi himself.

Due to his La Masia upbringing, the 18 year old plays with freedom and flair just like the Barcelona legend. The attacker decided to stay at Barca during their transfer ban, when Real Madrid were prepared to snap up the youngster for big money.

Embed from Getty Images

Youri Tielemans

At just 19, Youri Tielemans is already a household name in European football having made over 150 career appearances for Anderlecht, many of which have been made in the Champions League. He’s the third youngest player to play in the competition at the age of 16 years and 148 days, when he featured against Olympiakos.

Tielemans is two-footed, which is important for an all-round midfielder like himself. His passing range is second to none and he is blessed with pace meaning he can just about cover every role in his department.

He has been at his boyhood club since the age of 12 and this along with his fantastic leadership skills means he’s next in line for the captaincy at Anderlecht, unless of course he gets snapped up by a European super club.

Huge talent.