Australian-born Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli and Joeys goalkeeper Charlie Wilson-Papps have been named among the Premier League’s best young talents.
The Guardian identified the brightest talent coming through Premier League clubs for their 2026 Next Generation list, featuring
youngsters born between 1 September 2009 and 31 August 2010, an age band known as first-year scholars.
On that list, headlined by Arsenal sensation Max Dowman, are teenage Aussie-born duo Nicoll-Jazuli of Chelsea and Wilson-Papps of Brighton and Hove Albion.
Sydney-born sensation Nicoll-Jazuli became Chelsea’s youngest ever player earlier this season, while Australian youth international Wilson-Papps continues to make waves at Brighton.
So, who are the two Australian-born talents?
Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli
The 16-year-old is one of the biggest talents in European football, after making his debut earlier this campaign.
Nicoll-Jazuli signed his first professional contract with Premier League giants Chelsea, despite interest from overseas clubs.
Australian-born academy star Nicoll-Jazuli, 16, will not formally sign his new contract until his 17th birthday in January with scholarship terms agreed initially. Considered one of the academy’s most promising talents, he turned interest to commit his future to the Blues.
Born in Sydney to an Aussie mother and a Sudanese father, the teenage sensation is continuing to make waves abroad. The England youth international, who is also eligible for Australia through his mother, has been pursued by France.
Nicoll-Jazuli only turned 16 on January 6, but already became the youngest player ever to start for Chelsea in the UEFA Youth League against Benfica in September, before scoring in the following match against Ajax. He has also taken on Qarabag and Barcelona.
Last month, Nicoll-Jazuli – who travelled to Sydney with Chelsea in pre-season – made his competitive debut against Brentford in the Premier League.
“I was informed yesterday that he was born in Sydney, so it was a surprise,” Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso said in July. “But he’s one of those talented players that come from the academy.
“Really impressed with him. We saw what he was about, Mahdi he’s a talent that we need to help, we need to develop because there’s special qualities that you don’t see that often from a 16-year-old.
“I don’t know if he has Australian passport, but it will be tough for him to choose in the future.”
Despite being just 16, he has played Under-21s and has also played for England’s Under-17s.
“He has a great dynamism, he has quality,” Alonso said. “A very complete player.
“He can pass short, dribble in the middle, he has made a good impression so far.”
Charlie Wilson-Papps
Like Nicoll-Jazuli, 17-year-old goalkeeper Wilson-Papps signed a pro contract this year. The teenager signed a scholarship contract with Brighton and Hove Albion in July.
Born in England, Wilson-Papps is eligible to represent Australia through his heritage. Initially an England U15 international, he switched his allegiance to play for the Joeys at the 2026 U17 AFC Asian Cup – where he was a standout.
Brighton paid AFC Wimbledon a six-figure transfer fee to sign the talented shot-stopper 18 months ago.
At the time, Wimbledon’s academy manager Michael Hamilton said: “From day one we knew we had identified a young man with real sporting potential and through hard work (from both staff and Charlie) and complete focus, this potential transferred to exciting performances.
“These performances resulted in him receiving a deserved England call-up at the beginning of 2024, which led to him being watched by almost every club in the country.
“It’s another name on the list of players that have been developed here at the Academy, identified and then recruited by a club higher up the pyramid.”
Seen a real long-term prospect for Australia, Wilson-Papps had been involved in training camps at youth level for England before making the international switch, which has provisionally tied him to the Green and Gold, with a one-time switch required for him to play for the Three Lions.
