The best young players in PES 2021 season update

When it comes to football games, picking up the best young players in the world will give you the best possible chance of growing your team into a football giant long term. Thankfully, like the 2020 database of the game, the 2021 Season Update for PES is here to provide plenty of options when it comes to picking up players to take you forward.

The players in this list are all aged 21 and under in the game’s database (which will explain the exclusion of Kylian Mbappe, who is listed as 22), giving you the best possible chance of reaching their potential, and come from a variety of leagues, meaning that some of the more obscure players could be available for a slightly cheaper price, or have a high probability of joining you. 

Here are the five best young players in each position in the PES 2021 Season update, with their team, starting overall score, and their potential ability all highlighted. 

Be aware that playing styles differ from player-to-player, so while a one might be the best in terms of stats in a position, not everyone will work for the role that you are looking for. For example, Eduardo Camavinga is the highest-rated young player in the central midfield position but has a playing style of Anchor Man, a more defensive role. If you are looking for a more creative player with good passing, a player such as Dominik Szoboszlai, who has the Orchestrator style which means he excels in moving the ball around the pitch, will be a better option.

Goalkeepers

• Gianluigi Donnarumma – Milano Rn (AC Milan) – OVR 84, Potential OVR 92
• Alban Lafont – Nantes, on loan from Fiorentina – OVR 80, Potential OVR 89
• Matvey Safonov – Krasnodar – OVR 76, Potential OVR 85
• Illan Meslier – Leeds United – OVR 74, Potential OVR 85
• Luís Maximiano – Sporting Lisbon – OVR 74, Potential OVR 84

Right Back

• Emerson – Real Betis, on loan from FC Barcelona – OVR 80, Potential OVR 90
• Sergio Dest – Ajax – OVR 77, Potential OVR 90
• Reece James – Chelsea – OVR 78, Potential OVR 89
• Max Aarons – Norwich City – OVR 76, Potential OVR 89
• Diogo Dalot – Manchester United – OVR 76, Potential OVR 88

Left Back

• Alphonso Davies – FC Bayern Munchen – OVR 82, Potential OVR 93
• Owen Wijndal – AZ Alkmaar – OVR 77, Potential OVR 90
• Brandon Williams – Manchester United – OVR 75, Potential OVR 89
• Luca Pellegrini – Juventus – OVR 76, Potential OVR 88
• Vitaliy Mykolenko – Dynamo Kyiv – OVR 76, Potential OVR 88

Center Back

• Matthijs de Ligt – Juventus – OVR 86, Potential OVR 95
• Ozan Kabak – Schalke 04 – OVR 79, Potential OVR 92
• Boubacar Kamara – Olympique Marseille (OM) – OVR 80, Potential OVR 91
• Marash Kumbulla – Hellas Verona – OVR 76, Potential OVR 89
• Tanguy Nianzou – FC Bayern Munchen – OVR 73, Potential OVR 89

Central Defensive Midfielder

• Declan Rice – West Ham United – OVR 81, Potential OVR 91
• Sandro Tonali – Brescia* – OVR 79, Potential OVR 91
• Boubakary Soumare – Lille – OVR 78, Potential OVR 90
• Florentino Luís – Benfica – OVR 76, Potential OVR 88
• James Garner – Manchester United – OVR 70, Potential OVR 87

* – Tonali has since joined AC Milan on loan, so expect this to be corrected in a future patch

Central Midfielders

• Eduardo Camavinga – Rennes – OVR 77, Potential OVR 92 (Playin
• Matteo Guendouzi – Arsenal – OVR 80, Potential OVR 91
• Phil Foden – Manchester City – OVR 78, Potential OVR 89
• Eljif Elmas – Napoli – OVR 78, Potential OVR 89
• Dominik Szoboszlai – Free Agent* – OVR 77, Potential OVR 89

* – Szoboszlai’s club RB Salzburg are not in the game.

Attacking Midfielder

• Kai Havertz – Free agent* – OVR 84, Potential OVR 94
• Nicolo Zaniolo – Roma – OVR 82, Potential OVR 93
• Jonathan David – Lille – OVR 79, Potential OVR 92
• Mason Mount – Chelsea – OVR 81, Potential OVR 91
• Mohammed Ihattaren – PSV – OVR 75, Potential OVR 91

* – Havertz has recently joined Chelsea, so expect this to be corrected in a future patch

Right Midfielders/Right-Wingers

• Jadon Sancho – Free agent* – OVR 86, Potential OVR 96
• Rodrygo – Real Madrid – OVR 81, Potential OVR 94
• Mason Greenwood – OVR 78, Potential OVR 91
• Dejan Kulusevski – Juventus – OVR 77, Potential OVR 90
• Harvey Elliot – Liverpool – OVR 70, Potential OVR 90

* – Sancho is at Borussia Dortmund, but not currently reflected in-game

Left Midfielders/Left-Wingers

• Vinícius Júnior – Real Madrid – OVR 81, Potential OVR 93
• Callum Hudson-Odoi – Chelsea – OVR 79, Potential OVR 92
• Bukayo Saka – Arsenal – OVR 77, Potential OVR 97
• Moussa Diaby – Bayer Leverkusen – OVR 79, Potential OVR 90
• Justin Kluivert – Roma – OVR 78, Potential OVR 90

Centre Forward/Second Striker

• João Félix – Atlético de Madrid – OVR 83, Potential OVR 94
• Donyell Malen – PSV – OVR 79, Potential OVR 91
• Myron Boadu – AZ – OVR 77, Potential OVR 91
• Gabriel Martinelli – Arsenal – OVR 76, Potential OVR 90
• Alexander Isak – Real Sociedad – OVR 79, Potential OVR 89

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