Garnacho, Yamal and Yoro – Teenagers with most minutes across top ten leagues

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2023/24 season 

Leagues across Europe have drawn to a close with attention switching to the upcoming major international tournaments. Some of the best players in the world will feature at Euro 2024 and Copa América, including some talented youngsters.

A number of generational talents have enjoyed breakthrough campaigns this season like Kobbie Mainoo at Manchester United and Leny Yoro at Lille. Managers are increasingly under intense pressure to get results but several have placed their faith in younger talents with some clubs prioritising their development with the aim of selling them on for huge profits. We’ve analysed the data across the top ten leagues to discover which teenagers played the most league minutes across the 2023/24 season. 

No teenager played more minutes across the top ten leagues than Cristhian Mosquera at Valencia. After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Valencia stabilised themselves in La Liga with a ninth place finish and Mosquera emerged as an important player. The 19-year-old has been a regular at centre-back and he’s attracting attention from clubs across Europe, including Crystal Palace and Atlético Madrid. 

Guillaume Restes looks destined to become France’s number one goalkeeper in the future after a stunning season at Toulouse. The 19-year-old started all 34 Ligue 1 games for Toulouse and he’s on the radar of Bayern Munich as a potential long-term replacement for Manuel Neuer. Yasin Özcan from Turkish top-flight side Kasimpasa ranks third with two phenomenal centre-backs talents featuring at fourth and fifth. Jorrel Hato has already captained Ajax this season at just 18 and he’s been a shining light during an incredibly disappointing season for the Dutch giants. Arsenal are known admirers of Hato and Ajax will face a battle to keep his summer and Lille face the same issue with Yoro. The Frenchman is wanted by Real Madrid but they’ll face competition from Liverpool and Manchester United for his services. 

Alejandro Garnacho ended the season on a high with Manchester United after scoring in the FA Cup final against Manchester City. The talented winger became a key player for Erik ten Hag last season and he started 36 consecutive games. João Neves will be part of Portugal’s squad at Euro 2024 and he seems destined to depart Benfica this summer after playing 2313 league minutes last season. Neves epitomises the modern midfielder due to his incredible technical ability. PSG’s Warren Zaïre-Emery and Man United starlet Mainoo are considered two of the best midfield talents on the planet and both feature in the top twenty, while fellow prospect Arthur Vermeeren completed his move to Atletico Madrid in January.