The 50 best wonderkids in football: Nwaneri and Antwerp's Lagos-born striker named on Goal's list for 2024

In its annual NXGN list, Goal.com has highlighted 50 of the most incredible talents to have been born after January 1, 2005, with two teenagers of Nigerian descent making the cut.

Arsenal attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri and Royal Antwerp's Lagos-born attacker George Ilenikhena have been named among the elite young talents in world football covering all five continents and representing 17 different countries

Ilenikhena is ranked 36th on the list overall, while England U17 international Nwaneri occupies the 41st position in the ranking. 

The 17-year-old has made 40 appearances across all competitions for reigning Belgian champions Antwerp, scoring fourteen goals and registering an assist since his arrival at the club last summer. 

The highlight of his performance this season was scoring the game-winning goal in Antwerp's 3-2 win over Barcelona in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. 

Aged 15 years and 181 days, Nwaneri entered the record books as the youngest ever player in Premier League history when he made his senior debut for the Gunners against Brentford on September 18, 2022.

Since his historic debut, the Hale End Academy product has received an additional six call-ups to the first team.

Nwaneri is set to turn professional at Arsenal this week, having already agreed a deal that will keep him at the Emirates Stadium until at least June 30, 2026.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: arsenal.com

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