Villarreal’s Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze has been listed among the top 50 youngsters that will be household names by this time in 2020.
He was the only Nigerian teenage player listed.
According to a report on UEFA.com, Chukwueze made the shortlist alongside, Chelsea’s teenage sensation, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Jadon Sancho, Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid and Brazil, Ethan Ampadu of Wales, Gelson Fernandes of Portugal, Achraf Hakimi of Morocco.
Chukwueze who has been likened to the legendary Arjen Robben has been shaking up the Spanish Liga and UEFA Europa League this term with his skills and aggressive play for Villarreal.
The 19-year-old broke into Villarreal’s first team this season after impressing with the B team and has so far scored four goals from 13 outings in all competitions this campaign for Villarreal.
Chukwueze whose contract is currently due to expire at the end of the season is currently attracting interest from several teams according to his agent Johnny Ogbah.
A FIFA under-17 World Cup winner with Nigeria in 2015, Chukwueze came close to joining Arsenal in 2016 – arrived at Villarreal from Nigeria’s Diamond Academy in August 2017.
Other players that were listed include; Ilzat Akhmetov, Emil Audero, Nicolo Barella, Sander Berge, Josip Brekalo, Rafa Camacho, Giorgi Chakvetadze, CSKA’s Fedor Chalov, Alphonso Davies, Merih Demiral, Moussa Diaby, Joao Félix, Arnaut Groeneveld, Robert Gumny, Ianis Hagi, Amadou Haidara, Kai Havertz, Luka Ivanusec, Luka Jovic, Ozan Kabak, Alban Lafont, Andriy Lunin, Weston McKennie Brais Méndez, Nikola Milenkovic, Eder Militao, Juan Miranda, Nikola Moro, Arijanet Muric, Vitaliy Mykolenko.
Florian Müller, Reiss Nelson, Stanley N’Soki, Dani Olmo, Ricard Puig, Ionuț Radu, Javier Sanchez, Ismaïla Sarr, Mykola Shaparenko, Unai Simon, Oliver Skipp, Smith Rowe, Martin Terrier, Dayot Upamecano and Nicolo Zaniolo.
