On this opening day of the regular phase of the Champions League, we’ve decided to introduce you to 5 young players whose interesting situations will give them an important role in their clubs’ journeys. From the far east of Kazakhstan to the heart of London, we’re taking you on a fascinating trip.
- ESTEVAO WILLIAN
The young Brazilian is one of the great hopes of the Seleção. Signed by Chelsea for €46M and brought into the Blues’ squad for this season, Estevão has a real opportunity to make his mark in Chelsea’s stacked attacking line. His dribbling profile can bring more unpredictability to a Blues side that sometimes looks stagnant. Enzo Maresca seems to trust him, and that trust was rewarded with a Man of the Match trophy in his very first Premier League start against West Ham.
- GEOVANY QUENDA
In his final season at Sporting Lisbon, the young Portuguese winger has a big opportunity ahead of him. Already spotted and bought by Chelsea, the teenager has already delivered 3 assists this season with Sporting. Often used as a super sub, the winger brings a lot of energy and attacking drive, helping Sporting break down stubborn defenses late in games. Portugal’s head coach Roberto Martinez describes him as “a magical player capable of bringing imbalance and technical quality.”
A young Sporting winger heading to a Premier League giant at 18—doesn’t that remind you of another all-time great ?
- JEAN-MATTEO BAHOYA
The oldest player on this list, Jean-Matteo Bahoya offers a more atypical profile, far from the expected star label. Signed by Eintracht Frankfurt in the winter of 2023–2024, the former Angers talent seems to be finding his place within the German team. With three Bundesliga starts in three games, he looks set to become the main man on the left wing of the attack. Quick and explosive, his style strongly recalls that of Kingsley Coman.
- DASTAN SATPAEV
He is without a doubt the face of this season’s surprise Champions League participant, Kairat Almaty, and the face of the future of Kazakhstani football. Dastan Satpaev is a phenomenon of precocity, not only because of his young age (16 years old and the youngest goalscorer in Champions League history) but also thanks to his profile as a small yet powerful player. Deadly with the ball at his feet and blessed with exceptional balance that allows him to resist challenges or change pace in an instant, he has a huge future ahead of him—and has already been purchased by Chelsea.
- IBRAHIM MBAYE
For the defending champions, the skies have turned noticeably darker. Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Désiré Doué will all miss the first games for PSG. That opens the door for young Ibrahim Mbaye to make his debut in the greatest competition of all. Already showing flashes of promise in his Ligue 1 cameos and in the UEFA Super Cup, the Parisian academy product doesn’t seem fazed by the pressure of stepping into a starting role for the reigning European champions.