Saka, Hudson-Odoi, Williams and the 20 England youngsters with the most potential

Robin Bairner

Updated: 11 Apr 2022 22:33 BST
3 min read

Bukyao Saka, Arsenal, 2021/22 — © ProShots

England have been on the cusp of a major international breakthrough for years now, having reached the semi-finals of World Cup 2018 then lost on penalties to Italy in the final of Euro 2020.

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With a favourable draw at the forthcoming World Cup in Qatar, they are among the leading contenders to break their lengthy drought of success.

Even if they fail in December, though, there is enough talent coming through their ranks to challenge for years down the line, as this impressive list of players is testament to.

Aided by leading data analytics company SciSports, FootballTransfers can reveal the 10 English players who have the potential to reach the greatest heights in the game. These figures using hundreds of in-game data points and SciSports’ algorithm to predict which stars will rise highest.

Only players aged 21 or under will be considered, and only if they are eligible to play for the England international team.

Who are England’s stars of the future?

It is little surprise that Phil Foden of Manchester City leads the way. The technically gifted midfielder is flourishing under Pep Guardiola’s guidance at the Etihad and has the potential to be one of the stars of his generation.

He is followed by another youngster impressing at the top of the game in the form of Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, who is set to be a player who will figure prominently in football transfer news in the months ahead as leading clubs battle to drag him away from the Bundesliga side.

Rounding out the top three is Arsenal’s exciting wing talent Bukayo Saka.

England's most promising U21s

Name	Club	SciSkill Potential
Phil Foden	Man City	157.7
Jude Bellingham	Dortmund	147.3
Bukayo Saka	Arsenal	146.8
Callum Hudson-Odoi	Chelsea	135.8
Marc Guehi	Crystal Palace	126.9
Emile Smith Rowe	Arsenal	124.3
Callum Doyle	Sunderland	121.3
Brandon Williams	Man Utd	121.1
Tino Livramento	Southampton	120.0
Finley Burns	Swansea	117.5
Liam Delap	Man City	117.4
Joe Whitworth	Crystal Palace	117.3
Levi Colwill	Chelsea	117.1
Curtis Jones	Liverpool	116.8
Ryan Sessegnon	Tottenham	114.5
Luke Thomas	Leicester	114.5
Oliver Skipp	Tottenham	114.1
Cole Palmer	Man City	114.1
James McAtee	Man City	113.7
Jack Wells-Morrison	Crystal Palace	113.2

Behind him are some more surprising names, led by Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi, a player who broke through early but has never fully realised his capabilities at Stamford Bridge.

Sunderland’s 18-year-old defender Callum Doyle is the only non-Premier League player to make the top 10, while Manchester United’s Brandon Williams and Southampton’s Tino Livramento sneak into that bracket.