After the summer's World Cup highlighted the incredible quality in the women's game right now, Goal picks out 15 teenagers to keep an eye on in Europe
GettyLauren James | Manchester United
When Manchester United stormed to promotion last season, Lauren James, the youngest player in their squad, blew the league away.
Scorer of 14 goals – second only to team-mate Jess Sigsworth – the 17-year-old earned her first England U19 caps as a result, and a place in their Euros squad after scoring off the bench against China.
The attack-minded midfielder, sister of Chelsea's Reece James, has an eye for a pass and will look to show the FA Women’s Super League what she can do this year, having left Arsenal in 2018 to get her opportunity to shine.
AdvertisementGettyJacynta Galabadaarachchi | West Ham United
Jacynta Galabadaarachchi has promised to have her breakthrough season for several years now. It didn't happen at Melbourne City, nor Perth Glory, and now West Ham United are next in the line of clubs who believe they can get the best out of the talented 18-year-old.
A new experience in England, where the forward had trials with both Manchester United, Manchester City and Everton as a child, could be exactly what she needs, particularly with the wealth of experience surrounding her.
Australia are likely to be heading to the Olympics next summer and Galabadaarachchi will be keen to give herself an outside chance of joining them in Tokyo.
GettyMaelle Lakrar | Montpellier
Few players manage to establish themselves as a first-team regular by 17 but, after making her debut a year earlier, that’s exactly what Maelle Lakrar did with Marseille.
Her performances in their 2017-18 season, which ended in relegation, weren’t in vain either as they secured her a move to Montpellier – often the best of the rest in Division 1 after Lyon and PSG.
Now 19 years old, she started 14 games for the club last season but that number is likely to increase this year for the commanding centre-back, who scored twice this summer and was named in the Team of the Tournament as France won the U19 Euros.
GettySophia Kleinherne | Frankfurt
It’s been some 2019 so far for Sophia Kleinherne, and it only promises to get better.
The 19-year-old earned her first senior call-up for Germany when she was included in January’s winter training camp, then captained the U19s to the final of the Euros this summer after ending the season with a flurry of starts for Frankfurt.
With Marith Priessen, who played every Frauen-Bundesliga minute for Frankfurt last season, having joined Paris, there is an opening at centre-back and Kleinherne is ready to build on her 13 starts last year and make it her own.