Five breakout Premier League stars this season

Cameron Smith

15 Oct 2023 16:21 BST
5 min read

Lyle Foster, Jarrad Branthwaite — © ProShots

The 2023-24 Premier League season has seen Ange Postecoglou take the division by storm, Chelsea and Manchester United fail to build on large summer investment and the three promoted sides struggle near the bottom.

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As ever, big-name players such as Erling Haaland, Bukayo Saka and Son Heung-min have shone at the start of the new campaign, but there are several young stars who have also caught the eye so far.

The promotion of young talent is a key facet of a successful team and unheralded gems can soon turn into future stars off the back of a good Premier League season.

FootballTransfers lists five young stars who have enjoyed a breakout campaign so far in 2023-24.

Five Premier League breakout stars

Luca Koleosho - Burnley

Burnley have struggled at the start of this season, but Luca Koleosho has been one of their major bright sparks.

The 19-year-old was signed for a pittance this summer - just €3 million - after a relatively unsuccessful three-year stint at Espanyol. He amassed just four La Liga appearances last season and was a regular in their B team instead.

However, he has taken to life in England superbly. The young Italian may not have scored in the Premier League, but his pace and trickery have torn many full-backs to shreds so far.

Furthermore, he played a key role in their draw against Nottingham Forest after displaying immense acceleration and a brilliant cut-back, which Zeki Amdouni eventually finished.

Jarrad Branthwaite - Everton

Jarrad Branthwaite’s breakthrough season arguably came on loan at PSV Eindhoven last year. The centre-back shone in the Eredivisie and PSV wanted to make the deal permanent, but Everton rejected their advances.

This season, Branthwaite has been superb at the heart of Sean Dyche’s backline and interest from Manchester United is little surprise. Everton have conceded 12 goals this campaign, which is the same as Aston Villa in fifth, West Ham in seventh and Man Utd in 10th.

© ProShots - Jarrad Branthwaite on loan at PSV

Branthwaite’s left-footedness is a massive plus from a build-up perspective and he combines that with excellent defensive instincts. If he keeps this form up, an England call-up and a big transfer away could be on the cards soon.

Pape Matar Sarr - Tottenham

Pape Matar Sarr made just two Premier League starts last season and racked up just over 200 minutes in the competition during his first campaign as a Tottenham player.

This year, however, Ange Postecoglou has given the 21-year-old a starring role next to Yves Bissouma in Spurs’ midfield pivot. He has already started seven league games this term and has been an underrated figure in Tottenham’s flying start to the season.

He netted in the 2-0 win over Man Utd and has allowed Bissouma to flourish. Rodrigo Bentancur’s imminent return from injury could see Sarr lose his place in the starting XI, but that would be unjust given his incredible start to the season.

Simon Adingra - Brighton

Brighton have done it again. The Seagulls have become renowned for their ability to sign the next exciting talent before their existing superstar leaves the club.

In this instance, with Barcelona and many others reportedly interested in Kaoru Mitoma, Brighton already have their replacement for the Japan international in the form of Simon Adingra.

Like Mitoma, Adingra spent a year out on loan before being integrated into the Seagulls first-team and he scored 15 goals and provided 15 assists in all competitions for Union Saint-Gilloise last campaign.

Upon his return to the AMEX Stadium, the 21-year-old Ivorian has played a rotation role but has still managed to notch two goals and one assist in seven Premier League appearances.

"ONE LAPSE AND HE IS PUNISHED!"

Mistake from Mac Allister and Adingra fires in from range! 💥 pic.twitter.com/DC9PEC0IbE
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 8, 2023

Lyle Foster - Burnley

The final player on this list is another Burnley star. Lyle Foster failed to live up to expectations following his €11m move from Westerloo in January.

The South African scored just one goal in 15 Championship and FA Cup appearances during his first six months at Turf Moor, but Vincent Kompany continued to stress that he would go down as a bargain signing.

That faith has paid off this season as Foster sits on three goals and two assists in just six Premier League games.

The 23-year-old was sent off in the dying embers of Burnley’s 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest, but that has been the only sour note of an incredible campaign from a personal viewpoint.

Foster has provided a goal or an assist in every league game so far this season except the opening day loss to Manchester City and he will soon become a key transfer target of bigger clubs if he maintains this incredible run of form.