Future Queens

Real Madrid have secured the future of one of the most promising players to emerge from their academy, La Fábrica, with Noe Bejarano signing a first-team contract until June 30, 2030.

“Tiny but incredibly strong. Unstoppable. When you say ‘Siria Crotti’, you actually mean ‘Rome’. It’s her against everyone.” That was how Italian journalist Andrea Barilaro described the performance of Barcelona’s brand-new signing, Siria Crotti.

Ever since the NWSL established its U18 Entry Mechanism, allowing football’s youngest stars to achieve their professional dreams, the league has seen an influx of younger players giving even the most experienced footballers a hard time. Who are the best young players in the NWSL?

FC Barcelona Femení have some of the world's best players in their squad. They have become role models for many of the young women in the club's academy, but they also set the benchmark against which emerging players are inevitably compared. While that can be inspiring, it can also place extra pressure on young academy talents.

Emma Moreno is one of the jewels who has come out of the Atlético de Madrid youth academy. In addition, she is also one of the regular players in the lower categories of the Spanish National Women's Team. The Spanish striker has just become European U19 Champion and, in addition, has been one of those chosen for the ideal eleven of the tournament. In it, UEFA has highlighted the “tactical discipline” of the red-and-white player. 

Mckenna “Mak” Whitham broke records when she became the youngest ever player to sign a professional contract in the NWSL, just one day shy of her 14th birthday in 2024. Five months before she penned that deal, she became the youngest athlete to sign a name, image, and likeness (NIL) contract with Nike. What is there to know about the teenager who has been breaking records since before she even started high school?