These Are the Young Stars Destined to Shine in LaLiga
Youth is making its mark in LaLiga, and there are already several names that are practically a reality. Starting this week, as the championship kicks off on Thursday with Athletic vs. Getafe, these young talents will fight to reaffirm their status as world-class players despite their young age.
Arda Güler, Endrick, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Pau Cubarsí, Yarek Gasiorowski, Juanlu Sánchez, Arsen Zakharyan, Alberto Moleiro, and Willi Kambwala aim to achieve the status of other young players like Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo Goes, Julián Álvarez, and Vinícius Júnior, who have already moved past the need to prove themselves as stars.
Güler and Endrick, Real Madrid’s Young Talents
At Real Madrid, under Carlo Ancelotti's guidance, two players will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Bellingham, Rodrygo, and Vinícius. The first is Güler, who debuted last season with an insignificant start but finished spectacularly, scoring six goals in just 12 appearances across all competitions.
At 19 years old, the Turkish midfielder became one of the sensations of the Euros. With his left foot as precise as a glove, his remarkable ability to break through lines makes him a clear alternative to bench players like Rodrygo. In Germany, he carried his national team to the quarterfinals, and now he aims to continue his great form.
Endrick, another future signing for Real Madrid, is only 18 years old and still has much to prove. With a transfer policy similar to that of Vinícius and Rodrygo, the club has once again cast its nets in the Brazilian market. The Palmeiras sensation, with 21 goals in his first three seasons at the top level, will face fierce competition from his compatriots and, above all, from Kylian Mbappé, the Liga’s biggest star.
Barcelona’s Inexhaustible Youth Academy
At Barcelona, the influence of the youth academy has been crucial in bringing many gems to the forefront. And, without a doubt, the most significant is Lamine Yamal, the great sensation of the Euros—named the competition’s best young player—and a precocious genius who already showed his quality last season with the Blaugrana.
With spectacular dribbling from the flanks and a maturity beyond his 17 years, Lamine Yamal has an entire season ahead of him to confirm himself not just as a rising star but as one of the best players in the league, Europe, and the world. Over 51 official matches with Barcelona and a memorable Euro campaign with Spain have earned him a well-deserved reputation as a top player.
He could be joined by another youngster with incredible potential and similar dribbling skills on the wing. Nico Williams, at 22, remains with Athletic, although Barcelona might target him to strengthen their formidable flanks.
Nico Williams doesn’t lack experience: he’s accumulated four seasons with Athletic, and his last year, with eight goals, 16 assists, and a memorable Euro campaign, marked a definitive breakout that many hope will continue in LaLiga. Some want him to stay with Athletic, while others dream of his arrival at Barcelona. The market will decide his fate.
Barcelona also boasts other treasures that overflow with youth and quality. One such player is central defender Pau Cubarsí. Like Lamine Yamal, he broke out last season under Xavi Hernández. Despite some ups and downs, his outstanding performance at the Paris Olympics, where he won the gold medal, highlights the importance of this 17-year-old talent.
Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, will also have an eye on other young talents. First, Gavi, whose career saw a setback after a knee injury. Now, he’s fighting to complete his recovery and, at 20 years old, return to the level that dazzled before his time in the infirmary.
Then there’s Pedri, who missed the Euros due to injury and, at 21, hopes to regain the consistency he’s lacked recently due to injuries. Meanwhile, Fermín López already looks like a seasoned player, and Pau Víctor and Marc Casadó impressed during preseason.
The Other Rising Stars: Yarek, Zakharyan, Moleiro, Juanlu, Kambwala...
But it’s not all about Real Madrid and Barcelona. Other clubs also have young talents eager to break out. For example, at Valencia, there’s defender Yarek Gasiorowski, who, at just 19, is a solid center-back with a bright future. He was one of the leaders of the Spanish team that won the U-19 European Championship, and his club has given him a first-team spot with a 45 million euro release clause. They’ve secured their young gem.
Real Sociedad has signed the great 20-year-old Russian prospect Arsen Zakharyan from Dynamo Moscow. He debuted at 17 in what is now his former club. He’s an indisputable quality midfielder who is also highly versatile: he can switch positions and play as a midfielder, attacking midfielder, or left-winger. He’ll face fierce competition, but Imanol Alguacil could give the opportunity to a youngster with a promising future.
At Sevilla, Juanlu Sánchez, overshadowed by his idol Jesús Navas, will experience a crucial season in his career. Navas, who will retire in December, will finally make way for a full-back who hasn’t even turned 21 yet and who was a key player for Santi Denia in securing Spain’s gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
Another player knocking on the door of success is Las Palmas’ Alberto Moleiro, delighted with the arrival of a new coach like Luis Carrión, who advocates for a style of play that emphasizes verticality and quick ball recovery.
Hindered by an injury at the beginning of last season and later affected by his team’s inconsistent play, the talented Canary Islands midfielder is also looking to make his mark among the young players seeking glory.
And then there’s Willy Kambwala, a 19-year-old Villarreal signing for central defense. The Congolese defender made his debut last season with Manchester United and has now packed his bags to settle in with the Castellón-based team, who paid ten million euros for a player with physical prowess and good ball distribution, generating excitement within Marcelino García Toral’s squad.
Kambwala, along with Moleiro, Güler, Yamal, Nico Williams, Endrick, Cubarsí, Juanlu Sánchez, Pedri, Fermín, Yarek, Zakharyan, Gavi, Pau Víctor, and Casadó, could become one of the most valuable young players in LaLiga. Many on this list are already ahead, already established stars, and if there are no surprises, they will confirm their status as stars. Some, like Güler, Yamal, and Nico Williams, will fight to make a name for themselves among the likes of Mbappé, Bellingham, Haaland, or Vinícius. Time will tell.
