Premier League players to watch in Chile

The Premier League gems not to be missed at the FIFA U20 World Cup mAlthough Aston Villa struggle in the Premier League, the West Midlands club shines when it comes to representing the division at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

The biennial youth championship begins in Chile this Saturday, with Villa and Bournemouth each providing two of the seven players from England’s elite clubs.

A playground for emerging talents, the tournament has already seen players such as Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland.

It promises to be an unmissable show for club scouts across Europe and beyond: but which players should Premier League fans be keeping an eye on?

Omar Khedr (Aston Villa; FIFA U20 World Cup team: Egypt)

Omar Khedr, the 19-year-old left winger who arrived at Villa Park last summer in a £2.4m deal from ZED FC, is expected to play a key role as Egypt begin their Group A campaign against Japan at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos.

The highly rated striker was an early acquisition by V Sports, a holding company owned by Villa owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, and which has a partnership deal with Egyptian Premier League club ZED.

Believed to be the most expensive Egyptian teenager in transfer history, Khedr scored a memorable goal for Villa’s Under-21 team just days after arriving at the club, although he is perhaps best known for a viral photo showing him giving water to a stray cat during a ZED training session.

Yeimar Mosquera (Aston Villa; FIFA U20 World Cup team: Colombia)

Should Egypt progress to the knockout stages, Kedr could find himself facing Villa teammate Yeimar Mosquera.

The 20-year-old defender, signed from Orsomarso SC last summer, was part of the Colombian team that finished third at the South American Under-20 Championship in Venezuela earlier this year.

Initially loaned out to Villa’s Spanish affiliate Real Unión, Mosquera made seven appearances for the third division before being recalled by manager Unai Emery in January.

Alexéi Rojas (Arsenal; FIFA U20 World Cup team: Colombia)

Behind Mosquera could be Arsenal youth goalkeeper Alexéi Rojas.

Born in Basildon to a Colombian father, Fernando, and a Russian mother, Yulia, the 19-year-old goalkeeper could have chosen to represent any of the three countries.

His ambitions, however, are firmly focused on Colombia, with whom he has already played in two South American Under 20 championships, and which he dreams of representing at the World Cup next summer.

Steven Hall (Bournemouth and Australia)

Rojas won’t be the only young Premier League goalkeeper to shine in Chile.

Seven months after helping his country win the Under-20 Asian Cup, Bournemouth’s Steven Hall, signed from Adelaide United last summer, has been called up again by Australia.

James Overy (Manchester United and Australia)

Hall will be joined in the Australian squad by Manchester United defender James Overy.

The 17-year-old, from Perth Glory’s youth system, completed a tricky move to United on a scholarship this time last year.

Julio Soler (Bournemouth and Argentina)

Another defender who will make the trip to South America is Bournemouth’s Julio Soler.

Born in the Paraguayan capital Asunción, the 20-year-old moved to Argentina at a young age and has since captained the country’s Under-20 team.

Enso González (Wolves and Paraguay)

Completing the list of seven Premier League prospects competing in Chile is Wolves winger Enso González.

The 20-year-old Paraguayan arrived at Molineux just over two years ago following a £10 million move from Libertad.

The spotlight shifts to Chile as the FIFA U-20 World Cup kicks off—a tournament long recognized as a launchpad for future superstars. While Aston Villa may be battling inconsistency in the Premier League, the club stands out for its strong youth representation on the international stage. Alongside AFC Bournemouth, Villa contributes significantly to England’s contingent at this year’s competition.

Historically, this tournament has showcased generational talents such as Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and Erling Haaland—players who used the stage to announce themselves globally. For scouts and analysts, it remains one of the most valuable environments to assess mentality, tactical maturity, and adaptability under pressure.