U21 Euros 2025 — Who were the best players at Under-21 European Championships?

The UEFA Under-21 European Championship 2025 in Slovalkia gave a chance to witness a host of young player as they showcased their

The UEFA European Under-21 Championship has long been a proving ground for the continent’s most promising young talents, a stage where future superstars announce their arrival. The 2025 edition, hosted in Slovakia, has been no exception, delivering thrilling matches, dramatic upsets, and showcasing the next generation of footballing giants.

Sportstar takes a look at the top 10 players who have illuminated the Under-21 Euros 2025 with their exceptional skills and impactful displays.

NICK WOLTEMADE (Germany)

One of the biggest reasons for Germany booking its spot in the final of the competition is its forward and tournament top scorer, Nick Woltemade. The 23-year-old bagged a hat-trick against Slovenia in Germany’s opening fixture and has scored in every match he has played in the tournament upto the final, while also recording three assists.

He joined Werder Bremen back in 2010 and recorded 18 goals and eight assists in 24 matches for the team’s U17 side in the U17 Bundesliga. He was called up to the senior team in January 2020 and made his debut the following month, in a league loss against FC Augsburg.

Last summer, he made a move to VfB Stuttgart on a four-year deal. He played 33 matches in all competitions and scored 17 goals while assisting three more. He also scored in Stuttgart’s German Cup final triumph against Arminia Bielefeld.

He made his senior national team debut in Germany’s 1-2 loss against Portugal in the semifinal of the recently concluded UEFA Nations League.

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JARELL QUANSAH (England)

Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah has been the backbone of the England squad, which has reached the semifinal stage of the competition.

After a Premier League title-winning season with Liverpool, Quansah has played full minutes in all of England’s six games, keeping one clean sheet in that period. He has a passing accuracy of over 90 per cent and has kept himself out of trouble, conceding zero yellow and red cards.

After coming through the Liverpool ranks from a very young age, Quansah made his senior team debut in 2023 and has gone on to make 58 appearances for the Reds, scoring and assisting thrice each. He also won the League Cup twice during this period.

GEOVANY QUENDA (Portugal)

Portugal’s Geovany Quenda came into the tournament as the youngest player of this edition at and age of 18 years, one month and 12 days.

Despite crashing out in the quarterfinal stage against Netherlands, Quenda personally had a good tournament, scoring three goals and assisting twice in the group stage.

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The youngster who played his club football with Sporting CP last season is set to join Premier League club Chelsea for the 2025-26 season. Chelsea agreed to pay up to 52 million euros, including variable components, for Quenda, who had attracted interest from Manchester United after being coached by Ruben Amorim at Sporting.

He made his debut for Sporting in 2024 and has played 54 games in all competitons, recording three goals and eight assists in that period.

ETHAN NWANERI (England)

The 18-year-old Hale End graduate has already showcased his on-ball abilities for Arsenal. Primarily an attacking midfielder, he can also operate as a right-winger. Nwaneri possesses a potent left foot, often cutting in from the right wing to curl shots from the edge of the box.

Nwaneri has played an important role in England’s run to the semifinal so far. He often comes on as a second-half substitute to give an added boost to the attack.

For Arsenal, Nwaneri became the youngest player in Premier League history when he came off the bench for Arsenal aged 15 years and 181 days in 2022. In the last season, the Englishman scored nine goals and provided assists for the Gunners in 37 appearances.

MATHYS TEL (France)

Mathys Tel is one of the many bright youngsters that France has in its ranks and was instrumental in his side’s run to the semifinal. Despite scoring only two goals in four games, one of those goals was the late winner in France’s 3-2 win against Denmark in the quarterfinal. Ahead of the final, he also leads the list for most shots on target (8).

France’s forward Mathys Tel has played 83 times for Bayern since the 2023-24 season and became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer
| Photo Credit:
AFP

Ahead of the 2025-26 season, Tel has penned a permanent deal till 2031 with Europa League winner Tottenham Hotspur, after spending the second half of last season with the side on loan from Bayern Munich. He has made 20 appearances for Tottenham, scoring three goal and assisting two in that period.

He has played 83 times for Bayern since the 2023-24 season and became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer when he netted in a cup game in August 2022 at the age of 17 years, 126 days, breaking a record held by teammate Jamal Musiala.

He had joined Bayern earlier that year from French club Rennes and has recorded 16 goals and seven assists.

JORREL HATO (Netherlands)

Jorrel Hato, the highly-touted Dutch wonderkid, has been a standout performer in the ongoing tournament, solidifying his reputation as a player to watch in the current transfer window. 

Having already cemented his place in the Ajax starting lineup, Hato has undeniably lived up to the hype with his impressive displays in Slovakia. His statistics at the tournament speak volumes: he ranks second in both successful tackles (15) and ball recoveries (39), showcasing his defensive prowess and work rate. 

The versatile 19-year-old, who can seamlessly operate as either a centre-back or left-back, is now attracting significant interest from several top Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool. Last season, Hato was a pivotal player for Ajax, making 50 appearances for his club and contributing three goals and six assists.

HARVEY ELLIOT (England) 

Harvey Elliot scored twice as England edged past the Netherlands 2-1 to seal its spot in the final. The right-winger has emerged as the Young Lions’ talisman in the tournament, scoring and creating chances in clutch moments.  

The English attacker has lived up to his reputation as one of the most exciting young players in the tournament with five goals in six matches. While the Liverpool player has long been hailed as “the next big thing,” he has yet to secure a regular starting spot in the Merseyside club’s line-up.

Last season, Elliot scored five and registered three assists in 28 appearances. However, the 22-year-old only made six starts in the Reds’ triumphant Premier League campaign. His superb display has sparked interest in the transfer market as several Premier League clubs are reportedly looking to prise him away from Anfield. 

GUSTAVO SA (Portugal)

Portugal’s run to the UEFA U21 European Championship 2025 quarterfinals was significantly propelled by the efforts of Gustavo Sa. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, who plies his trade for Famalicao in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, not only led his team’s offensive charge but also proved valuable in off-the-ball play. 

Sa (r), a talent honed in the Porto youth academy, underlined his creative prowess by becoming the leading assist provider in the ongoing championships.
| Photo Credit:
AFP

Sa, a talent honed in the Porto youth academy, underlined his creative prowess by becoming the leading assist provider in the ongoing championships (as of the final).

His strong club form last season for Famalicao saw him net four goals and provide eight assists across 34 league appearances, cementing his reputation as one of the brightest prospects in Europe.

NELSON WEIPER (Germany)

While Nick Woltemade has been leading the charge for Germany in front of the goal, 20-year-old Nelson Weiper has been more decisive, scoring four goals in consecutive matches, including the final.

He scored the winner in Germany’s final group stage match against England while also netting against Italy in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal against France, he scored the opener in the eighth minute as his side went on to win 3-0.

Weiper is an academy product of Bundesliga club Mainz 05 and made his senior team debut in October 2022. He has played 40 games for the club and has scored thrice while also recording two assists. According to rumours, his performances in the U-21 Euros have caught the eyes of other German clubs, including RB Leipzig, which will be looking for a replacement if Benjamin Sesko is to leave.

ERIC MARTEL (Germany)

Blessed with a resolute midfield, Germany made its way to the final of the UEFA U21 Championship 2025, and Eric Martel played a pivotal part in the journey. 

The 23-year-old defensive midfielder led the tournament in tackles with an impressive 18. Martel’s robust defensive skills are complemented by his keen eye for a pass. 

At the club level, Martel plays for German side FC Koln. Last season, he made 31 appearances in Bundesliga 2, playing a crucial role in his team’s promotion to the Bundesliga as it clinched the league title.