In total, 28 players under the age of 20 have appeared in matchday squads in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League so far this season.
Despite the top tier of English football being very much a multi-national game nowadays, there are still a number of homegrown and academy talents coming through and the future is still very bright for young players looking to carve out a career in the game.
The year 2021 should be another one in which we witness the both the emergence and development of a number of young talents. FA Women’s Super League Full-Time have taken a look at the current players under the age of 20 and we have identified those players who we believe will make names for themselves in the next calendar year.
We have selected five players in total and have excluded those who have played regular senior football prior to the 2020/2021 season.
Emma Bissell (Bristol City)
Teenage winger Bissell was signed by Bristol City for an undisclosed fee from Manchester City last summer and the player has already featured regularly for Tanya Oxtoby’s side.
A couple of substitute appearances were as close as Bissell got to first team football at her former club but she has been a shining light for new club Bristol City this season.
The youngster has played in nine of The Robins’ 10 Barclays FA Women’s Super League fixtures while she netted her first senior goal as Bristol City drew 1-1 at Reading last month.
The England Under-19 international is sure to continue to cement her place in the Bristol City side in the second half of the season and we will undoubtedly hear many more positive reports about her performances.
Wiktoria Kiszkis (West Ham United)
Poland Under-17 captain Kiszkis joined the West Ham United academy system from Arsenal and the youngster became The Hammers’ first academy graduate to make her league debut for the club in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League when she came on in their 5-0 defeat at Manchester City in November 2019.
Kiszkis also made two appearances for the East Londoners in last season’s FA Women’s Continental League Cup while she was most recently in action for The Hammers as they defeated Bristol City 4-0 at Twerton Park last month.
At the age of just 17, the midfielder will have to bide her time for first team opportunities at The Chigwell Construction Stadium but she is undoubtedly a real talent. With new West Ham United manager Olli Harder having recently been appointed, Kiszkis will be looking to make a swift impression upon the New Zealander and will hope to continue to be a member of The Hammers’ matchday squad.
Esther Morgan (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Morgan is pushing hard for her first team debut after being included in three matchday squads during the last six weeks. The 18-year-old defender was invited to train with the first team by former joint-head coaches Karen Hills and Juan Amoros and she has continued to impress new boss Rehanne Skinner.
The Wales Under-19 captain has also impressed at international level with the player having been called up by senior boss Jayne Ludlow for the very first time last month for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 qualifier against Belarus.
Morgan looks to be closing in on her first senior appearances for club and country and it would be no surprise for her to be a household name in the game in 12 months’ time.
Naomi Layzell (Bristol City)
Bristol City centre-back Layzell is the youngest player in the entire Barclays FA Women’s Super League at just 16 years of age but she is showing maturity well beyond her years.
The youngster is balancing first team football with her studies after joining The Robins in the close season but she is impressing in a red and white shirt and has already clocked up 341 league minutes.
Layzell came off the bench to make her debut against London Bees in the FA Women’s Continental League Cup in October and since making her maiden appearance, she has added five further outings to her tally.
The youngster has featured in four of Bristol City’s last six matches in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and should she continue to develop, we might not only be looking at a Bristol City first team regular, we could also be looking at a senior England international in future years.
Kiera Skeels (Reading)
The oldest of our five selections at 19 years 344 days is Reading centre-back Skeels. The defender has been chomping at the bit for game time this season but has been an unused substitute for The Royals on 10 occasions.
Skeels was regularly involved with the Reading first team throughout last season and she made her first team debut in a 3-2 FA Women’s Continental League Cup victory over Lewes at The Madejski Stadium. She also played in last season’s 6-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the same competition.
The former Reading academy captain is yet to make her Barclays FA Women’s Super League debut but it is only a matter of time before she is handed her chance by manager Kelly Chambers. The England Under-19 international is a real talent and surely as she enters her twenties, 2021 will be her breakthrough year.