Five Young Stars Ready to Make Their Mark on New Premier League Clubs in the 26-27 Season
A new generation has arrived in the Premier League. Every Premier League season introduces another wave of young talent. Still, the 26-27 campaign could be particularly important for a group of players arriving at new clubs with expectations already attached to their names. The summer transfer window has seen Premier League sides invest heavily in players who can contribute immediately while also becoming long-term pieces of their squads. Among the most intriguing arrivals are Elliot Anderson at Manchester City, Jeremy Jacquet at Liverpool, Andrey Santos at Manchester United, Mateus Fernandes at Tottenham Hotspur, and Luka Vuskovic at Brighton & Hove Albion. All five players are 23 years old or younger, and each arrives with a different combination of experience, potential, and tactical importance. Their first season with their new clubs could help shape not only their own careers but also the direction of their teams.
Elliot Anderson: Manchester City’s New Midfield Engine
Manchester City have already made one of the summer’s most significant investments in youth and versatility by bringing in 23-year-old Anderson from his previous Premier League team Nottingham Forest. Anderson’s rise has been remarkably quick, moving from a loan spell with Bristol Rovers in League Two to becoming an established Premier League midfielder and an England international. Manchester City agreed a deal with Nottingham Forest in July, with the transfer finalized after Anderson’s involvement with England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Anderson’s value to Manchester City could come from his ability to combine physicality with technical quality. At Nottingham Forest, he developed into a midfielder capable of winning challenges, carrying the ball forward, covering ground and contributing defensively without sacrificing his ability to progress possession. His defensive work was particularly notable during his final season at Nottingham Forest as he started in 26 of 37 matches throughout the season.
That skill set that Anderson has gives another option in midfield as manager Enzo Maresca’s side looks to maintain its dominance while evolving its squad. Maresca will have a lot of pressure to maintain Manchester City’s strong performance last Premier League season. Anderson does not necessarily need to become a weekly superstar immediately because his greatest value may come through rotation, tactical flexibility and his ability to change the physical intensity of matches. His arrival also gives Manchester City a younger midfielder capable of developing alongside the club's existing technical core. If Anderson adapts quickly to Manchester City’s possession-heavy structure, he could become one of the most important additions of the summer.
Jeremy Jacquet: Liverpool’s Next Defensive Building Block
At just 20 years old, Jacquet arrives at Liverpool F.C. with the opportunity to establish himself at one of England’s biggest clubs. Liverpool completed his signing from Rennes in July on a long-term contract after agreeing the deal earlier in the year. Jacquet came through Rennes’ academy and made 33 senior appearances for the French club, including 21 appearances during the 25-26 season before a shoulder injury ended his campaign in February. He also gained playing experience on loan at Clermont Foot and has represented France at the under-21 level.
Jacquet’s arrival is particularly interesting because Liverpool are entering a new tactical era under manager Andoni Iraola. Rather than expecting a 20-year-old defender to become the undisputed leader of the back line immediately, Liverpool can gradually integrate Jacquet into a defensive unit that will demand composure, athleticism and confidence when playing with a higher defensive line. His experience in France has already exposed him to senior football, meaning he is not arriving as a completely untested academy player. His challenge will be adjusting to the speed, physicality and pressure of Premier League football.
The opportunity could be enormous. Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League in 25-26 and surrendered their title to Arsenal, creating pressure for Iraola and the club to rebuild quickly. Jacquet therefore arrives at a moment when Liverpool need younger players who can eventually become central figures rather than temporary squad pieces. If he can remain healthy and earn consistent minutes, his development could give Liverpool a long-term defensive cornerstone. His ability to develop alongside Liverpool’s established defenders could make him an important piece of the club’s long-term rebuild.
Andrey Santos: The Midfielder Manchester United Needed
Few young signings enter a new club with such an obvious opportunity as Santos at Manchester United. The 22-year-old Brazilian joined Manchester United from Chelsea on a deal running through June 2031, with an additional one-year option. His move comes after a productive period in France with Strasbourg and a 25-26 season in which he made 27 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, including 13 starts. Additionally, his experience in England and France has already given him valuable exposure to different tactical systems and levels of competition. At United, he could provide greater energy and versatility in midfield while continuing to develop into a more complete player.
Santos could become particularly important because of Manchester United’s midfield situation, especially since they have recently entered their most important Premier League preseason stretch. With Casemiro departing after his contract expired, and Manuel Ugarte suffering a serious knee injury during the World Cup, this has left manager Michael Carrick with limited senior options in central midfield. Manchester United are also preparing for Champions League football, meaning the squad will need greater depth and physical capacity across multiple competitions. That could give Santos an immediate opportunity to compete for a regular role rather than spending his first season primarily as a rotation player. His ability to contribute defensively while also progressing the ball could make him a valuable part of Manchester United’s midfield rebuild.
Santos offers more than simple defensive protection. He can operate as a deeper midfielder but also has the energy to press, recover possession, and make forward runs. During his 24-25 Ligue 1 campaign, he scored 10 goals, demonstrating that he can contribute further up the pitch when given the freedom to do so. The biggest question will be consistency. Santos showed flashes of his quality at Chelsea but struggled to secure a regular starting role in a crowded midfield. At Manchester United, however, the pathway to significant minutes could be much clearer. If he can provide ball-winning ability, mobility and occasional goals, Santos could quickly become one of the most important pieces of Manchester United’s midfield rebuild.
Mateus Fernandes: Tottenham’s Creative Midfield Investment
Tottenham Hotspur have made a major commitment to 21-year-old Fernandes, signing the Portugal international from West Ham United. Fernandes arrived after gaining Premier League experience with both Southampton and West Ham, making his move different from that of a young player stepping into England for the first time. Tottenham’s sporting director Johan Lange praised his technical ability, intelligence and maturity, while Fernandes himself identified new manager Roberto De Zerbi as a major reason for choosing the club. His familiarity with the Premier League should allow him to adapt quickly to Tottenham’s demands and the intensity of a full domestic campaign. Working under De Zerbi could also help him develop within a possession-focused system that emphasizes intelligent movement, technical quality and quick combinations. Fernandes now has the opportunity to turn his previous Premier League experience into a more consistent role at a club looking to build for the future.
That relationship with De Zerbi could be crucial. Fernandes is joining a Tottenham team attempting to establish a more aggressive and possession-oriented identity under the Italian manager. His ability to receive the ball under pressure, progress play and contribute energy in midfield fits naturally into a system that asks central players to be technically confident and proactive. Fernandes has already demonstrated that he can handle demanding Premier League environments. Tottenham's own assessment of his career highlights his development at Sporting CP before gaining valuable English experience at Southampton and West Ham. That familiarity should reduce the adjustment period and allow him to focus on learning De Zerbi’s tactical demands.
For Tottenham, the signing represents more than adding another midfielder. Fernandes is young enough to improve significantly but experienced enough to contribute immediately. If he can establish chemistry with Tottenham’s other midfielders and become a consistent source of progression and creativity, he could play a major role in the club's attempt to climb the table. For Tottenham, the signing represents more than adding another midfielder. Fernandes is young enough to improve significantly but experienced enough to contribute immediately. If he can establish chemistry with Tottenham’s other midfielders and become a consistent source of progression and creativity, he could play a major role in the club's attempt to climb the table. His versatility could also give De Zerbi more flexibility when adjusting the midfield depending on the opponent. A strong first season could establish Fernandes as one of the central pieces of Tottenham’s long-term rebuild.
Luka Vuskovic: Brighton’s Teenage Defensive Gamble
The youngest player on this list is Vuskovic, who joined Brighton & Hove Albion at 19 years old after leaving Tottenham Hotspur. The Croatian defender signed a five-year contract with an option for another year, giving Brighton significant control over one of Europe’s most highly regarded young centre-backs. Vuskovic already has an unusually extensive senior résumé for his age. He made his soccer debut just two days after turning 16 and later developed through loan spells before spending the 25-26 season with Hamburger SV in Germany. During that campaign, he made 30 appearances in all competitions and scored six goals, while also earning senior Croatia caps and making his World Cup debut against England.
His goalscoring record makes him particularly intriguing. Vuskovic is not simply a defender who specializes in stopping attacks; he has demonstrated an ability to threaten opponents from set pieces and contribute in the final third. That could make him valuable to Brighton, especially as the club continues to emphasize technically gifted players who can contribute to possession and build attacks from the back. Still, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has emphasized that Vuskovic remains young and will need time to adjust to the demands of the Premier League. That patience could be essential. Brighton are not simply signing Vuskovic for what he is today; they are investing in what he could become over the next several seasons.
The Connection Between All Five of the Players
What connects Anderson, Jacquet, Santos, Fernandes and Vuskovic is not simply their age. Each player arrives at a club that has a specific need for his skill set, making their transfers more significant than ordinary developmental projects. Anderson brings physicality and defensive intelligence to Manchester City’s midfield, Jacquet gives Liverpool a potential long-term defensive cornerstone, Santos addresses an immediate midfield shortage at Manchester United, Fernandes adds creativity and technical quality to Tottenham, and Vuskovic gives Brighton one of Europe’s most intriguing young defenders. The 26-27 season will ultimately determine how quickly each player can translate potential into Premier League production. Some could become starters immediately, while others may require a gradual introduction to their new surroundings. What makes them worth watching is that all five have already demonstrated enough quality to suggest they are capable of becoming more than squad players. If even three or four make significant breakthroughs, this summer’s investment in young talent could become one of the defining stories of the new Premier League season.
