Young football stars who are particularly promising are expected to be in the transfer news as the season approaches an end. Coaches and fans alike look forward to the arrival of the next generation of players who want to make an impression on the world scene. Here are some stars already making an impact in their respective football leagues.
George Hirst – Ipswich Town
George Hirst is a 25-year-old English forward who plays for Ipswich Town in the EFL Championship. He played for Leicester City, Portsmouth, Rotherham United and Blackburn Rovers, before arriving at Ipswich Town. Hirst played 24 matches during the 2023–2024 season, achieving seven goals and six assists. Based on his attacking performance, he ranks 52nd out of 561 Championship players who have participated in at least three matches.
Hirst has performed remarkably in the tournament, with a goal involvement rate of 0.69 every 90 minutes. Ipswich Town has amassed 88 goals this season, showcasing formidable attacking skills. With few games left to finish the season and Leicester already gaining promotion, championship betting sites already have interesting odds on whether Ipswich Town will also gain promotion to the English Premier League. The site has odds of Ipswich winning their next game against Huddersfield at 1/5 and also allows for multi-bets on other games.
Daniel James – Leeds
Daniel James is a 26-year-old Welsh forward who plays for Leeds United. He was born in England. James has participated in 40 matches during the Championship 2023/2024 season, achieving 13 goals and eight assists. James has a scoring rate of 0.47 goals per 90 minutes of play, which ranks him second among the top scorers in the Leeds United team.
He has participated in a total of 295 matches, scoring 45 goals and contributing 38 assists throughout various tournaments. He notably played for Manchester United from 2019 before leaving for Leeds in August 2021 and has significantly assisted the team in achieving its current rankings of third in the championships. With Leeds and Ipswich on the same points, bookmakers have placed exciting championship promotion odds on which team will progress as second-best in the league. The odds on Ipswich are 1/40 while Leeds United’s is 11/10.
Frenkie De Jong – Barcelona
Frenkie De Jong is a 26-year-old Dutch midfielder who plays for Barcelona. He is famous for his versatility and excellent defensive abilities, which makes him a vital member of Ronald Koeman’s team.
Teams he’s played for include Ajax, Willem II and Barcelona, achieving several titles, including the Dutch Cup and the Dutch League title. De Jong has also played in the World Cup and the UEFA Nations League for the Netherlands national team. He has made 148 appearances for Barcelona, with seven goals and seven assists during the 2022–2023 season.
Mason Mount
Mason Mount is a 25-year-old professional footballer from Portsmouth, England currently playing at Manchester United. He gained notoriety for his outstanding abilities in the attacking midfield position. Mount has participated in many competitions, including the Premier League, Champions League, EFL Cup, FA Cup and Club World Cup.
The English youngster received the Golden Player award in 2017. His 2023-2024 season, however, has been hampered, with time on the sideline due to injuries, but he’s one to look out for in the upcoming season.
