Saka, Pedri, Bellingham head list of 2021 Golden Boy nominees

The 20-man shortlist for the 2021 Golden Boy award has been announced, and established youngsters such as Pedri, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and many others have been named on the shortlist of players for the annual award.

After Borussia Dortmund phenomenon Erling Haaland won the award in 2020, the German club has produced two of the nominees for this year’s edition of the award in 18-year-old England midfielder Jude Bellingham and 18-year-old USA attacker Giovanni Reyna.

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka is one of only two players on the shortlist that ply their trade in the English Premier League, with Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood also included in the shortlist.

Ajax and Netherlands youngsters Jurrien Timber and Ryan Gravenberch also made the cut for the 2021 Golden Boy award.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are represented by two players apiece, with French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo representing Los Blancos. Spain’s youngest international ever, Gavi, is surprisingly included on the list after only nine senior appearances in his fledgeling career alongside his teammate at the Nou Camp, the 18-year-old Pedri.

Bayer Leverkusen youngster Florian Wirtz is included alongside his fellow full Germany internationals Karim Adeyemi and Jamal Musiala, who represent Red Bull Salzburg and Bayern Munich, respectively.

Daniel Maldini, son of AC Milan legend Paolo also makes the shortlist alongside PSG left back Nuno Mendes and Villarreal forward Yeremy Pino.

Arsenal’s William Saliba also makes the shortlist after impressing on loan at Olympique Marseille in the French Ligue 1. Tottenham Hotspur youngster Bryan Gil, Club Brugge’s Charles De Ketelaere and Atalanta striker Roberto Piccoli complete the list.

The 2021 Golden Boy list in full;

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal & England)

Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund & England)

Mason Greenwood (Manchester United & England)

Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund & USA)

Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax & Netherlands)

Jurrien Timber (Ajax & Netherlands)

Gavi (Barcelona & Spain)

Pedri (Barcelona & Spain)

Bryan Gil (Tottenham Hotspur & Spain)

Eduardo Camavinga ( Real Madrid & France)

Rodrygo (Real Madrid & Brazil)

Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich & Germany)

Daniel Maldini (AC Milan & Italy)

Karim Adeyemi (Red Bull Salzburg & Germany)

Roberto Piccoli (Atalanta & Italy)

Charles De Ketelaere (Club Brugge & Belgium

Nuno Mendes (PSG & Portugal)

Yeremy Pino (Villarreal & Spain)

Of the 20 players shortlisted for the 2021 Golden Boy award, nine find themselves among the nominees for the 2021 Kopa Trophy for the best U-21 player in the world.

William Saliba (Olympique Marseille & France)

Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen & Germany).