#youth-development

#youth-development

Arsenal are among a host of top European clubs interested in one of the brightest emerging talents from Norway this week. The north London side have become renowned in recent years for bringing through starlets from their youth ranks, Bukayo Saka being the obvious poster boy. The winger paved the way for the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly to follow, with 15-year-old Max Dowman the latest to step up into the first-team equation.

But it is definitely something that we're going to have to be thoughtful with how to bring along some of our talented young players and incorporate them into our core. That being said, it's a constant challenge because we have the highest of expectations going into each season. But I do think it's something we're going to have to be deliberate and thoughtful about as we look out. That doesn't necessarily mean Opening Day 2026.

There are shared languages that transcend what is written down or spoken aloud. Young people seem to understand this better than most. The teenagers at a recent after-school study hour in East Oakland spoke mainly in Spanish, but when they exchanged knowing grins, or burst into sudden laughter, it was clear that even behind a language barrier, this was an environment they trusted.

There are shared languages that transcend what is written down or spoken aloud. Young people seem to understand this better than most. The teenagers at a recent after-school study hour in East Oakland spoke mainly in Spanish, but when they exchanged knowing grins, or burst into sudden laughter, it was clear that even behind a language barrier, this was an environment they trusted.

"Boys that age don't get given these sorts of opportunities with that regularity unless they're incredible talents," one agent said. "We saw it with Lewis Miley a couple of seasons ago, then Kobbie Mainoo, but he was a little older. "More often, you see young players get a few minutes off the bench, or start matches out wide away from the spine of the team. But to be in the middle of the park? Well, that's special."

The cracks are starting to show with this England team and with the narrative we've been fed for three years after another defeat. Their identity of always taking the aggressive option, of relentlessly putting pressure on their opponents, isn't holding up to scrutiny. So far in this series they haven't had the strength needed to achieve it, and they haven't had the skills either.

Our club is currently proving that we can compete with the big European clubs, even though we don't have the same financial resources. For me, Bayern are currently one of the three best teams in the world. And scoring a goal at the Allianz Arena is probably one of the toughest tasks for any team in the world right now. It will be a game where Bayern are the clear favorites. On our side, we only have the ambition and dreams of our players,

Me first joining the program, I was incarcerated... I was like, woah, I've never done this before. It helped me escape from the reality I was in, and it helped me belong,

"Winning is always important. I'm happy because the team played well in terms of play and spirit. We always make these mistakes, conceding avoidable goals to others," he said. " We lack focus and cunning, but the team responded, played a great game, and created goals. The new arrivals did well, three-quarters were the Primavera team. We're on the right path; what matters is growth, and today we saw good individual and team growth. "We only have two seniors, Magrassi and Branca. They're intelligent guys, they know where they are and what their job is, which is to help these guys, the team, and when they come in, they always do, they never fail to do so. " The spirit is right, and that's what these guys need, also because they need a bit of experience. The message Magrassi gave today, beyond the goal, is to come in with the right spirit to lend a hand to the team, as Branca himself did and always does. Because guys don't grow alone, but also through example."

A teenager who regularly starts at a club is notable event. A 16-year-old who regularly starts for one of the teams vying to be promoted to the Bundesliga is something else. Ergo everybody looked over to Hertha Berlin as Kennet Eichhorn, a product of Hertha Berlin's illustrious academy, suddenly got integrated into the first and started gathering minutes as the 2025/26 season began. He impressed with his technique and decision making,

The son of former Chelsea and Brazil captain Thiago Silva, Isago, has signed his first professional contract with the Premier League club. The 17-year-old was promoted to Chelsea's under-18 squad in the summer. Isago and his younger brother, Iago, joined Chelsea's youth academy when their father moved to Stamford Bridge in August 2020 from Paris Saint-Germain. In a statement, Chelsea said that Isago has "developed into a versatile and reliable defender, comfortable operating at both left-back and centre-back."

We're building Swedish youth. The sign adorning the main stand at Brommapojkarna is simple, authoritative and accurate. Beneath it, in the lashing rain, the men's side are training. But while their top-tier status is important, that is far from the primary focus. Twenty-four hours before the men's game, BP's 5,000-capacity Grimsta IP stadium hosted a celebration of the under-19s, who secured a first national title since 2008.

Joan Laporta and Deco, at this point, are perhaps Barcelona's two most important figures in terms of the club's football project. The club president, after all, has been working to no end to ensure the Catalans can recover from the financial muddle they were in, while the sporting director has done a decent job in recent transfer windows to work with the limited finances.

I started playing at four years old, in a team near my neighbourhood, Forese. When I think back and look at where I am now, it gives me motivation and pride. I owe and will owe everything to my family; they've made great sacrifices for me, like moving to Lecce this year. When I made my debut at San Siro for Milan against Fiorentina, my mother burst into tears,

"I think everything starts with the number 7, because it's my favorite number, and for the history that connects us. Throughout my life, I've worn it, whether in the youth categories at the academy or with the age-group national teams-so, the ability to take this step and wear it here with the senior team is a very special moment for me," he told the media.

Wolfsburg are interested in Christoph Freund for their vacant sporting director role, but the Austrian has no intention of leaving Bayern. Freund would certainly have a larger role with Wolfsburg and far more power than he does in Bavaria, but it would be a steep drop in prestige and capability. Freund has built a reputation as an executive who can help drive improvement and excellence in a club's youth development system.

Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing the highly talented defender Deinner Ordonez. The 16-year-old has done quite well for Independiente de Valle, and he is attracting the attention of top teams. Liverpool have been monitoring his progress, and they could look to make a move for him in future. According to a report via Empire of the Kop, the transfer could be on to watch out for the future.

Being an up-and-coming player in the age of technology is not easy. With the presence of social media, footballers (both established and budding) are subject to all sorts of comments from people they've never met. Wisdom Mike, Bayern Munich's other 17-year-old rising star, has handled the media hype impressively.