NextGen Football Scout

Football scout & analyst | Scottish FA Talent ID Level 1.3 | U23 talent across Europe and the World | Threads on scouting, recruitment & player pathways

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

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The NG Eyeball Index

A quick one on what this actually is.

Yes, I'll break down stats. Yes, I'll look at players through a scouting lens. But at the end of the day — I love football. I love watching players who are exciting, entertaining and just fun to watch.

So alongside every scout report rating, each player gets an NG Eyeball score too. Purely based on what I see. Rated out of 10, relative to their position.

Fair warning — I won't be handing out many 10s. Right now? Lamine Yamal and Michael Olise might be the only two active players who have earned one.

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#FootballScout #NGEyeball

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨🔵 Everton have sealed deal to sign young centre forward Kai Hutchison from Dundee United.

16 years old Scottish youth international has accepted #EFC proposal.

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

Next up we're analysing the USA's 5 U23s to watch at the World Cup 🇺🇸

A host nation who got off to a flyer in their first game:

Alex Freeman — Villarreal, 21. A young attacking defender with pace and directness, already earning senior caps and developing at a strong European club.

Chris Brady — Chicago Fire FC, 22. A young goalkeeper with long-term upside, providing depth behind the more experienced options.

Joe Scally — Borussia Mönchengladbach, 23. A reliable, technically sound right-back who has been a consistent performer at Bundesliga level.

Giovanni Reyna — Borussia Mönchengladbach, 23. Hard to believe he is still 23 as he has been around for a while. A technically gifted attacking midfielder with real quality in tight spaces — when fit, one of the USA's most dangerous players.

Ricardo Pepi — PSV Eindhoven, 23. A physical, goal-hungry striker who has grown into a reliable option at the highest level.

Playing at home gives this group a massive platform, and Reyna and Pepi are the ones who can really make an impact.

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

@RisingStarXI @OptaJoe Great performance against a quality left back in Hincapie

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

Best young players at the #WorldCup so far

Bouaddi 🇲🇦
Diomande 🇨🇮
Ayari 🇸🇪
Brown 🇩🇪
Irankunda 🇦🇺
Beach 🇦🇺
Freeman 🇺🇸
Muharemovic 🇧🇦

Anyone I have missed?

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

Final day of my World Cup under 23s round

Starting off we’re analysing Tunisia’s 8 U23s to watch at the World Cup 🇹🇳

Tunisia got off to a poor start in the tournament, but the young group still has plenty to like:

Adem Arous — Kasımpaşa, 21. A young centre-back/defensive option with senior experience and long-term upside.

Moataz Nefati — IFK Norrköping, 21. A promising full-back/defensive wide option who adds athletic depth.

Raed Chikhaoui — US Monastir, 22. A domestic-based young defender who strengthens Tunisia’s depth at the back.

Ismaël Gharbi — SC Braga, 22. A creative, technical attacker who can operate across the frontline and between the lines.

Hannibal Mejbri — Burnley, 23. Tunisia’s headline young midfielder, energetic, progressive, and press-resistant.

Khalil Ayari — Paris Saint-Germain, 21. A high-upside attacking talent who adds pace and potential in advanced areas.

Rayan Elloumi — Vancouver Whitecaps, 18. A teenage striker with raw promise and room to develop.

Sebastian Tounekti — Celtic, 23. A direct wide threat who gives Tunisia pace and one-v-one quality.

Tunisia’s young group is compact, but it still gives them pace, creativity, and upside despite the rough opening.

#tunisia #worldcup

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

Next up we are analysing Japan’s four U23s to watch at the World Cup 🇯🇵

Zion Suzuki --- Parma, 23. Japan’s No. 1 and the clear starter between the sticks, with top-level shot-stopping and presence already established in Serie A.

Junnosuke Suzuki --- FC Copenhagen, 22. A young centre-back with real upside, already settled in Denmark and bringing the kind of calm, physical profile Japan like at the back.

Kento Shiogai --- VfL Wolfsburg, 21. A live Bundesliga forward option who gives Japan pace, movement, and a direct threat off the bench or from the start.

Keisuke Gotō --- Sint-Truiden, 21. A powerful centre-forward and the sort of penalty-box striker who can make an impact with size, runs, and finishing.

Do we agree Zion Suzuki is Japan’s strongest U23?

#worldcup2026 #japan #footballscouting #nextgen

[Ligue 1 English @Ligue1_ENG]

Ayyoub Bouaddi. Enjoy. 🇲🇦💎

[SCOUTED @scoutedftbl]

As far as breakout performances go, you won't see many more obvious than the one Ayyoub Bouaddi has just put in against Brazil; an unflappable 18-year-old on the biggest stage of his career so far. That performance will always be a reference point for everyone that watched.

[Dougie Critchley @DougieCritchley]

Woke up thinking about Ayyoub Bouaddi... what a performance.

Won all his 4 tackles, 91% pass accuracy, 3 dribbles completed.

But it was the poise, the control, the evasiveness... against Brazil, in your country's opening match of a World Cup, on your 4th cap after declaring for Morocco less than a month ago...

That means it was a performance I will remember forever.

The fact Vinicius Junior was named FIFA Player of The Match... after his team were outplayed for large periods, is another sign of FIFA pandering to the biggest names and nations.

It had to go to a Morocco player!

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

Bouaddi in starting lineup for Morocco. Time to shine

#Morocco

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

20 years old. Born in Geneva. Now on the World Cup stage 🌍

Johan Manzambi has been bossing midfields in the Bundesliga all season. 7 goals, 9 assists, a Europa League final and tonight he does it for Switzerland 🇨🇭 vs Qatar at the World Cup.

This kid is the real deal. Eyes on him tonight 👀

#WorldCup2026 #Switzerland #Manzambi #FIFAWorldCup

[TheSecretScout @TheSecretScout_]

🚨 Everton close to completing deal for 16-Year-Old Kai Hutchinson from Dundee United

The striker physically very strong, surprised other clubs haven’t gone for him. This was the game I first saw him in May 2025 v Spain.

Interesting to see how he performs at U18s next season

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

Next up we’re analysing Turkey’s U23s to watch at the World Cup 🇹🇷

In my view, this is one of the strongest all-round young groups in the tournament:

Arda Güler --- Real Madrid, 21. Turkey’s creative hub and the kind of player who can tilt a game with one moment of quality.

Kenan Yıldız --- Juventus, 21. A versatile forward who can drift inside or out, and one of the most dangerous young attackers in the squad.

Can Uzun --- Eintracht Frankfurt, 20. An attacking midfielder with real goal threat, sharp movement, and the ability to operate between the lines.

Deniz Gül --- Porto, 21. A physically imposing forward who gives Turkey another direct attacking option up front.

Turkey’s young talent is not just flashy — it’s balanced, technical, and dangerous across multiple roles

#fifa #turkiye #worldcup

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

Next up we’re analysing another host nation, Canada’s 6 U23s to watch at the World Cup 🇨🇦

Luc de Fougerolles ---Fulham, 20. The youngest player in the squad, a composed young centre-back already getting senior minutes and long-term trust. Had a strong opening game against Bosnia.

Owen Goodman --- Crystal Palace, 22. A young goalkeeper with size and upside, giving Canada another developmental option in goal.

Niko Sigur --- Hajduk Split, 22. A versatile, tactically useful defender/midfielder who can fill multiple roles for Jesse Marsch.

Nathan Saliba --- Anderlecht, 22. A midfield engine with composure on the ball and clear progression upside.

Jayden Nelson --- Austin FC, 23. A direct winger who brings pace, ball-carrying, and transition threat wide.

Ismaël Koné --- Sassuolo, 23. The headline young midfielder in the group, strong in carrying the ball and breaking lines from deep.

Canada’s young core has good upside, with Koné and de Fougerolles standing out most.

[Scotland National Team @ScotlandNT]

Tomorrow, we are there.

One last look at the journey it took to get here.

#HAISCO | #FIFAWorldCup

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

Not the best game for attacking football for Bosnia but a monstrous performance from Tarik Muharemovic at the back

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

@joshuakloke @TheAthleticFC First proper time seeing him. Looks a very good player.

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

Ismael Kone for Canada looks a player

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

Bosnia have some serious U23 talent which includes one of my current favourite young players. 🇧🇦

Amar Dedić — Benfica, 23.
An athletic full-back/wing-back who brings energy, ball-carrying, and real attacking thrust from wide areas. He gives you a modern, high-tempo profile on the right side.

Tarik Muharemović — Sassuolo, 23.
A left-footed centre-back who looks composed in build-up and solid in defensive duels. He can hold a line, defend the box, and help progression from the back.

Nidal Čelik — Lens, 19.
A young defender with obvious long-term upside, still at the early stage of his senior development. He’s one to track for athleticism and adaptation to a stronger league environment.

Esmir Bajraktarević — PSV, 21.
A direct, technical attacker with the ability to operate from wide areas and create danger in transition. He brings unpredictability in the final third.

Benjamin Tahirović — Brøndby IF, 23.
A midfield presence who gives you size, composure, and range in possession. He can play as a deeper organiser or a ball-progressing central midfielder.

Kerim Alajbegović — RB Salzburg (Leverkusen), 18.
One of the youngest names in the squad and one of my favourite young players just now. Has a clear upside profile and room to develop physically and tactically. He’s a player to watch for technical quality and early flashes rather than finished output.

Ermin Mahmić — Slovan Liberec, 21.
A fresh squad addition and one of the more interesting developmental names in the group. He’s the type to mention as a future-facing pick because the ceiling matters more than the current output here.

#Bosnia #WorldCup #RoadTo2026 #FootballScout #FootballScouting

[NextGen Football Scout @next_genFS]

No Alajbegovic but will be on Bajraktarevic watch.

[Squawka Live @Squawka_Live]

🇨🇦 Canada XI: Crépeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Eustáquio, Koné, Millar; Jonathan David, Oluwaseyi.

🇧🇦Bosnia & Herzegovina XI: Vasilj; Dedic, Katic, Muharemovic, Kolasinac; Bajraktarevic, Tahirovic, Basic, Memic; Lukic, Demirovic.

#FIFAWorldCup | @@bet365 | #Ad