2021 Golden Boy : Arsenal, Chelsea, Salzburg starlets of Nigerian descent shortlisted

Tuttosport has revealed its eagerly anticipated 100 nominees for the prestigious Golden Boy, an award which is given to the calendar year's best European-based player under the age of 21.

There are three players of Nigerian descent on the first list of nominees, namely Chelsea winger Faustino Anjorin, Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun and Red Bull Salzburg striker Kareem Adeyemi.

It is worthy to mention that the Italian sports daily noted that Anjorin and Adeyemi are eligible to represent the Nigerian national teams.

Though the award is presented by Tuttosport, journalists working for high-profile publications such as Bild (Germany), Blick (Switzerland), A Bola (Portugal), l'équipe (France), France Football (France), Marca (Spain), Mundo Deportivo (Spain), Ta Nea (Greece), Sport Express (Russia), De Telegraaf (Netherlands), and The Times (United Kingdom) participate in voting.

Last season, Germany U21 international Adeyemi was outstanding for Red Bull Salzburg, bagging nine goals and eleven assists from 38 games in all competitions.

Anjorin received a winners' medal after Chelsea beat Manchester City in the Champions League showpiece even though he didn't feature in the final; he finished the season with three appearances for the first team.

Balogun impressed when given the opportunity by manager Mikel Arteta in cup competitions, scoring two goals and providing an assist in six matches for the first team.

The Hale End Academy product inked a fresh four-year contract with his boyhood club in April 2021.

Some of the eye-catching names up for the award include Jamal Musiala (Bayern), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Jude Bellingham (Dortmund), Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes), Umaro Embalo (Benfica), Mason Greenwood (Man Utd), Rodrygo (Real Madrid) and Yeremi Pino (Villarreal).

Borussia Dortmund's Norway international Erling Haaland is the current holder of the Golden Boy.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel