NXGN has selected the best English women's players born on or after January 1, 2004 – but will they fulfill their potential in the coming years?
Today, England's women's national team is the reigning European champion and will be one of the frontrunners going into the 2023 Women's World Cup. But who are the young stars that could one day follow in the footsteps of players like Leah Williamson, Keira Walsh and Alessia Russo?
Many teenagers are making their mark in the Women's Super League at the moment, such as Aston Villa midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown and Chelsea prospect Jorja Fox.
There are players from previous NXGN lists in the England set-up right now, too. Lauren James was among 2020's best wonderkids while Maya Le Tissier made the list the following year.
So, who will be next to break through? NXGN highlights nine of the Lionesses' most exciting prospects, born in 2004 or later…
Getty ImagesAlyssa Aherne (Manchester United)
Named Player of the Match when Manchester United won the 2022 WSL Academy Cup final, Aherne made her first team debut for the Red Devils in December in the Continental Cup.
A skilful winger with a good delivery, the teenager links up well with the full-back behind her and can finish, too. It's no wonder she's highly-rated within the club.
Aherne is currently dual registered with Burnley, in England's third-tier, in order to add valuable senior experience to her CV, and the England U19 international will hope that can help her take the next steps forward in her development.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesKeira Barry (Manchester United)
Another stand-out in United's WSL Academy Cup triumph last year, and a top performer for the team this season as well, Barry made her senior debut for the club alongside Aherne in December.
A year younger than her team-mate, the forward is the youngest player on this list but is already making a serious impression in the Red Devils' set-up and has been called-up by England's U19s, too.
Barry has absolutely incredible pace and is a good finisher. She's currently dual registered with third-tier side Derby County as she looks to polish her skillset further with exposure to regular senior football.
Simon Bellis / SportimageMia Enderby (Sheffield United)
The second-youngest player on this list, Enderby's importance for Sheffield United has only grown this season – especially after another gifted teenager, Lucy Watson, left the club to join Chelsea in the summer of 2022.
While Watson's departure was a blow, the Blades are excellent at developing young talent, and Enderby was next off the conveyor to make an impact in the forward line, having been slowly introduced to the senior game the year before. She's already one of her team's most regular goalscorers at 17 years old.
Already involved with England's U19s, the winger is thriving at a club with an excellent first-team environment and has admitted the exposure to senior football is helping her improve massively. Her ability hasn't gone unnoticed by WSL clubs, either.
GettyTeyah Goldie (Arsenal)
In Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall's first pre-season, ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, fans got a good look at some of the best young players coming through the Gunners' set-up, with Goldie among those to really catch the eye.
"She's excellent in her defending," her coach told the press. "I think it's pretty rare to see a player being that young and being so good at following the attackers in the penalty area.
"She's very good at taking small steps to know when to commit, and when to not, so I think she has a real, real talent there and I think she's one of those players from our academy that has a really bright future."
Goldie earned her Champions League debut off the back of that strong summer, aged 17, and was a regular in the first-team squads before joining Watford on loan in January 2022.
Sadly, the defender would rupture her ACL only a couple of months into that spell with the Hornets, but she signed her first professional contract with Arsenal in June and appears to be close to a return to action.