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13 Players to Watch in the New Premier League Season
Premier League

13 Players to Watch in the New Premier League Season

3 hours ago·3 min

Every new Premier League season brings fresh faces capable of turning heads — and BBC Sport's commentators have identified 13 players who could do exactly that in the months ahead.

From teenage sensations to experienced free-transfer acquisitions, the list spans clubs and nationalities and promises to make the coming campaign all the more compelling.

Sean Steur — Newcastle United

The 18-year-old Dutch midfielder arrives from Ajax in a deal worth up to £23 million, completing his move before Eddie Howe's departure. Commentator Steve Bower watched Steur make 25 appearances for Ajax across all competitions last season and came away impressed by his two-footed play and precise passing. Whether deployed in defensive midfield or further forward, Bower believes Steur has the personality and fearlessness to seize his chance when it arrives.

Caleb Yirenkyi — Coventry City

Newly promoted Coventry City have spent a club-record £25 million to bring the 20-year-old Ghanaian midfielder from FC Nordsjaelland, where he was named Young Player of the Year in the Danish Superliga last season. Yirenkyi (pronounced 'yur'INCH-ee') featured in all four of Ghana's matches at the World Cup — including their group-stage meeting with England — and also scored against Panama in the tournament, as well as against Wales in a pre-tournament friendly. His favoured position is central midfield, and commentators believe manager Frank Lampard is ideally placed to develop him further.

Oscar Mingueza — Crystal Palace

The 27-year-old Spanish defender has joined Crystal Palace on a free transfer after letting his contract at Celta Vigo expire. Mingueza missed Spain's World Cup-winning squad despite an impressive Nations League campaign, with Pedro Porro, Marcos Llorente, and Marc Pubill ahead of him for the right-back role. His ability to quickly transition from defence into attack caught the eye of commentator Conor McNamara, who described the signing as potentially one of the summer's best. With Daniel Munoz's future at Selhurst Park uncertain, Mingueza could prove a seamless replacement — or, if Munoz stays, he has the versatility to cover across the entire back line.

Brian Madjo — Aston Villa

Born in London to parents from Cameroon and raised in Luxembourg, the 17-year-old striker joined Aston Villa for just over £10 million in January and has already generated considerable excitement. Madjo scored four pre-season goals against Walsall, Real Sociedad, and Indonesia All-Stars before capping his standout summer with a goal against Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup, when Unai Emery handed him his competitive debut. He has since switched his international allegiance from Luxembourg to England's Under-17 side. Commentators have drawn early comparisons to Erling Haaland given his imposing physical frame, and with Villa competing in the Champions League this season, Madjo is expected to receive meaningful minutes alongside established strikers Ollie Watkins and Tammy Abraham.

Lucas Herrington — Hull City

The 18-year-old Australian centre-back arrives in England after a sole MLS season with the Colorado Rapids, during which he earned a place in the MLS All-Stars Team. Herrington only made his Australia debut in March yet became the country's youngest starter in a World Cup match as the Socceroos reached the knockout stages. He was the player whose penalty struck the crossbar in Australia's last-32 shootout elimination against Egypt — but his willingness to step up in that high-pressure moment underlines a courage that belies his age. Standing 6ft 4in, he is physically equipped for the demands of English football, even if the learning curve will be steep.

Veljko Milosavljevic — Bournemouth

Bournemouth have built a reputation for recruiting low-profile defenders who go on to command large fees — Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, and Illia Zabarnyi are the recent examples. The 19-year-old Serbian centre-back Veljko Milosavljevic could be next to follow that path. He made his club debut in Bournemouth's 2-1 win over Brighton, though then-head coach Andoni Iraola admitted beforehand that he was unsure whether the teenager was ready for the Premier League — having had only a couple of days to assess him. Commentator Tom Gayle believes the experience accumulated since that debut could make Milosavljevic one of the division's more intriguing young defenders this season.

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