S o here we are. The final instalment of The 10 Series 2014/15. After a week of reviews and profiles, analysing, rating and slating our selection of the most exciting young players to watch in 2013, we now present to you the final piece in our lowdown on 60 of the best young players in Europe in 2014/15.



(For your reference, here are the reviews of the young prospects we selected in 2013 from England, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and The Netherlands.)



Now, to conclude this year’s list, here is The 10 Series 2014/15 – Ligue 1 edition, our pick of Ligue 1 best young players to watch in 2014/15. Here are all the links to catch up on previous editions in the series if you missed them, both Class of 2013 and Class of 2014/15, of which this instalment is part:



Previously: The 10 Series 2014/15 – Part I – Best Eredivisie youngsters | Part II – La Liga | Part III – Serie A | Part IV – Bundesliga | Part V – English Premier League best youngsters



See also here for The 10 Series Class of 2013 – Ligue 1 (including Ben Yedder, Cabella, Digne etc) and The 10 Series – Ligue 1 Class of 2013 Review.

The 10 Series – Ligue 1 best young players to watch in 2014/15:

Florian Thauvin

(Olympique Marseille, 21 years old)

When the last edition of The 10 Series – Ligue 1 was compiled, Florian Thauvin was 19-years-old. A kid just breaking through in his debut season in Ligue 1 at Bastia, he made our shortlist but it was considered too early for the attacking midfielder with the dreamy left foot. We made a note of him.

Much has happened since. Thauvin signed for Lille during that window and was loaned back to Bastia, winning Ligue 1 Young Player of the Season 2013 before deciding that, actually, he didn’t really fancy moving to Lille. He wanted to play for Marseille instead.

A summer of bitterness followed – during which time Thauvin helped lead France to win the Under-20 World Cup. Finally he got his move, but a fight between Marseille coaching staff and angry Lille fans looking to attack Thauvin at Lille airport before Lille played Marseille last December only epitomised the rancour.

On the pitch, it’s clear this is comfortably one of the most outstanding young players in France. Great technique, good close control, a dribbler who loves to shoot from distance with that powerful left foot – Thauvin has it all. 18 Ligue 1 goals to date from attacking midfield and wide areas show a player who is, potentially, the real deal.

Paul-Georges Ntep

(Stade Rennais, 22 years old)

There was a point in time last year during which Paul-Georges Ntep was one of the most coveted young players in Europe. Dazzling at Ligue 2 Auxerre, the electrifiyng winger caused quite the stir. Hour after hour, day after day, rumour after rumour. Arsenal wanted him, it appeared. Newcastle too (obviously). And a string of others. So when Ntep finally landed at Rennes there was a sharp exhale of breath in Ligue 1. “Phew” came the collective sigh. “We’ve managed to keep one of our own.”

Ntep opened his account for Rennes in the best way possible: slamming home the opening goal in a 3-0 win away to rivals Nantes in the Breton derby. His cheeky, gap-toothed smile matches his frolicsome, daring style of play, making Ntep a really fun player to watch.

In that Nantes game, he ran straight past the Nantes fans, goading them with the classic ‘finger to lip’ celebration, while the 22-year-old also caused controversy last season by scoring a header from one yard out at Reims, getting on his hands and knees to head the ball over line. The goal was considered ‘disrespectful’ by some and ‘stooping to a new low’ by the Daily Mail, but then again, those are probably the same people who consider rainbows an unnecessary eyesore.

Ntep could be about to take his game to a new level this season. He scored three goals in the final month of last season and already has two in four games so far in 2014/15. The France U21 international has an extraordinarily quick burst of pace, super acceleration, can beat a man, shoots audaciously and is surprisingly adept in the air. This could be a huge season for the winger.

Adrien Rabiot

(Paris Saint-Germain, 19 years old)

By the time we come to rating The 10 Series Class of 2014/15 this time next year, one thing appears almost certain: Adrien Rabiot won’t be wearing a PSG shirt. In fact, his rating next year could well be tough: an acrimonious fallout with the club, a botched transfer to Roma and a contract ticking down into its final months all suggest this is the end for Rabiot at the club he’s grown up with. That he’s been omitted from PSG’s Champions League squad says it all.

PSG clearly have problems with their academy players at the moment, because Rabiot leaving after Kingsley Coman earlier this season, would be a huge blow. These are two of the best players under 20 anywhere in Europe. To let the contract of one run down is careless. To do it twice is approaching negligence.

If he does leave, as is likely, PSG are losing one hell of a prospect. Rabiot is a tall, conspicuous left-footed central midfielder who is authoritative in possession, passes the ball well and displays a level of awareness of space and positioning in midfield that belies his years.

A 90.3% pass completion rate in 24 league appearances last season (1175 minutes) placed Rabiot among the top 10 most accurate passers in Ligue 1, though the sample size is small. A huge talent we’ve been up on for some time, whoever ends up signing him has themselves a gem.

Layvin Kurzawa

(AS Monaco, 22 years old)

A player with Polish roots but who plays for France U21s, Layvin Kurzawa was a revelation last season. Amidst the decadent spending at the height of Monaco’s summer of opulence and grandeur, academy graduate Kurzawa wasn’t expected to play such a prominent role in the team. It was even a surprise when he was named in the starting line-up for Monaco against Bordeaux, and a tweet from the man himself seemed to confirm that sentiment. “Can’t believe little old me is playing in the same team as Falcao!” was the extent of his words.

Adept defensively and able going forward, pushing up and down the touchline in the manner that is almost pre-requisite for modern full-backs, Kurzawa’s sturdy performances won him a place in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season alongside former team-mate James Rodriguez. He also offered a welcome goal threat, hitting the net five times. The challenge now is to continue his development and prove he wasn’t a one-season wonder.

Morgan Sanson

(Montpellier, 20 years old)

Having lost both Benjamin Stambouli and 10 Series graduate Remy Cabella this summer, to Spurs and Newcastle respectively, Montpellier are in desperate need of new heroes at the Stade La Mosson. Arise, Morgan Sanson, a player of immense potential who has the profile to effectively replace either.

Described by his manaager Rolland Courbis as “neither a true number 6 nor a true number 10” Sanson is, in fact, a bit of both. He can hold in midfield and links play intelligently but he can also burst forward and offer a threat in forward areas, particularly in counter-attacking situations. That the former Le Mans player describes Andres Iniesta and Wayne Rooney as inspirations sums up Sanson’s split personality on the field.

The encouraging thing about Sanson is that at only 20 he still has a huge margin for progression. His manager Courbis has attempted to lift the weight of pressure from Sanson’s shoulders, but it’s difficult when so many are so excited about this youngster’s talents already. Capped at France U21 level, with one goal from three appearances thus far, Sanson is most certainly one to watch.

Alphonse Areola

(Paris Saint-Germain – on loan at Bastia, 21 years old)

The man named after a mammary gland is a welcome addition to The 10 Series, a keeper of great promise who has already achieved a lot in his short career. An U20 World Cup winner with France, Alphonse Areola was the hero in the final against Uruguay, saving two penalties to help his country lift the trophy.

A loan move to Lens followed, where a string of commanding displays helped Les Sangs et Or (the Blood and Gold – surely the coolest nickname in football) win promotion from Ligue 2 back into the top-flight after a three-year absence. As proof of his burgeoning ability, Areola was named Ligue 2 Goalkeeper of the Season.

Former PSG assistant coach Claude Makelele was clearly paying attention, calling upon his contacts in Paris to snap up Areola on loan for Bastia this season. There the tall, dominant keeper – who has a handy knack of also being excellent when it comes to outwitting forwards from the penalty spot – will get his first proper taste of French top-flight football. Big things are expected.

Gianelli Imbula

(Olympique Marseille, 22 years old)

Just turned 22, Gianelli Imbula is a player almost every major club in Europe had their eyes on in 2012/13, scouts flocking to watch this slick midfielder in action at Guingamp. Marseille eventually stumped up the cash to sign Imbula – who won Ligue 2 Player of the Year that season after helping Guingamp win promotion – forking out €7.5m for the France U21 international’s services.

His debut campaign in Ligue 1, however, did not go well. France Football had tipped the classy left-footer as a candidate for ‘revelation of the season’ but by the end of 2013/14 L’Equipe awarded him the crown for Ligue 1’s biggest flop. One goal and a string of low-key performances did little to impress, but we still have faith that Imbula can fulfil his talent.

A purposeful midfielder who always looks to advance play, whether by taking on his opponent or threading through an incisive pass, Imbula was described as ‘a player who can do everything’ by France Football, who praised his vision, intelligence and energy to cover ground in midfield above all. It’s a big season for Imbula this year under Marcelo Bielsa, but we have faith.

Anthony Martial

(AS Monaco, 18 years old)

Anthony Martial wasn’t even legally an adult when he inadvertently caused a rather public spat at one of France’s biggest clubs, moving from Olympique Lyonnais to Monaco for €5m last summer. OL president Jean-Michel Aulas was furious that financial restrictions had forced him to sell one of the club’s brightest young talents at a fairly minimal fee, and somehow blamed Bafetimbi Gomis for all of it as the striker ran down his contract and finally joined Swansea.

Aulas made a very public deal of things, lashing out in club statements and on Twitter, and you can see why he was mad when you watch Martial play. A powerful runner with the ball and brave enough to want to take men on, Martial is fortunate enough to have been able to spend a year at Monaco learning from esteemed strikers like Radamel Falcao, Dimitar Berbatov and, er, Emmanuel Riviere. Martial has good off-the-ball movement for one so young, is an athletic presence in the area and a strong finisher.

The younger brother of Brest defender Johan Martial, Anthony has a big future and the likes of Juventus, Valencia and Spurs are all keeping tabs.

Geoffrey Kondogbia

(AS Monaco, 21 years old)

Another Monaco player and the third France U20 World Cup 2013 winner player to make this list (fourth overall including Paul Pogba, and seventh if you include 10 Series Class of 2013 alumni Samuel Umtiti, Kurt Zouma and Lucas Digne) Geoffrey Kondogbia has the ability to go all the way to the top.

The defensive midfielder tended to play within himself at times during the U20 World Cup last year, drifting out of games at times, but when on song he’s a star in the making.

A midfielder driving force who loves dropping deep to collect the ball from defenders and then make lung-bursting forward runs through midfield, Kondogbia can do a bit of everything. Physical, technical and tactically smart, Kondogbia’s range of passing is impressive – he looks to thread through balls diagonally inside full backs to wingers or to the striker and has a powerful left foot.

Kondogbia came through Lens’ academy and played for Sevilla before Monaco paid €20m for him last summer. “Our entire game is built around him,” his former France U20 coach Pierre Mankowski once raved. If he continues his rate of progression he’s a future 10 Series Hall of Famer, for sure.

Diego Rolan

(Girondins Bordeaux, 21 years old)

Signed by Bordeaux ‘to be the new Yoan Gouffran’ according to then manager Francis Gillot, with the greatest respect to ‘wor Yoan we’d like to think the Uruguayan striker can potentially look to aim a little higher than that. Diego Rolan first came to my attention during the 2013 South American Youth Championships, in which the pacy striker scored four goals and raised the eyebrows of many a watching scout.

Bordeaux snapped him up that January from Defensor Sporting for around €3m, but Rolan struggled in his first six months with injuries. He failed to hit it off last season too, managing just two goals in 13 league games. But Rolan, a quick-witted, sharp striker who comes alive in the area and is quick to evade his man in the box, has hit the ground running in 2014/15.

Three goals in four games thus far is a fine return and perhaps we’re about to see what Rolan can really do now he’s working under new manager Willy Sagnol. Bleacher Report wondered if the Uruguayan striker can be the new Luis Suarez in a recent piece, which is, frankly, ridiculous. But this could finally be the year Rolan makes a name for himself in Europe.

Who do you think are the Ligue 1 best young players to watch in 2014/15? Anyone we missed out? Let us know below or on Twitter @JustFootball with #The10Series hashtag.