Youth Discovery — Centre-Backs Ages 16–18 · 2025/26 + 2026/27
The next five
Centre-Backs
2025/26 + 2026/27 · CONCACAF U20 · PL2 · U17 EURO · U19 EURO · U20 World Cup · UYL
53 assessed · 18 capped youth internationals with honours · benchmarked against 468 youth defenders
1
LB
Leonardo Bovio
Inter U19 · CB · 18
Italy U18 (2 caps · 0 g)  ·  ⭐ Player of the Match ×1
CRAFT
87
OUTPUT
72
98
2
SM
Stephen Mfuni
Manchester City U21 · CB · 18
England U21 (2 caps · 0 g)  ·  🏆 Premier League 2 Winner · 🏆 FA Youth Cup Winner
CRAFT
85
OUTPUT
63
94
3
TN
Talla Ndiaye
Liverpool U21 · CB · 18
Senegal U17 (4 caps · 0 g)  ·  ⭐ Player of the Match ×1
CRAFT
77
OUTPUT
70
94
4
MS
Marli Salmon
Arsenal U21 · CB · 17
England U17 (4 caps · 0 g)  ·  🏆 Premier League Winner · 🏆 Community Shield Winner
CRAFT
76
OUTPUT
69
92
5
KB
Kaden Braithwaite
Manchester City U21 · CB · 18
England U18 (10 caps · 0 g)  ·  🏆 FA Youth Cup Winner ×2 · 🏆 Premier League 2 Winner
CRAFT
84
OUTPUT
61
91
Craft rates how cleanly a player carries out the actions their role depends on — completion and success rates, weighted to the position and adjusted so a handful of attempts can't inflate them. Output rates what they actually produce every 90 minutes, rewarding sustained volume. The Discovery Rating blends the two and gives extra credit to a genuinely exceptional strength. Everyone here has already represented their country at youth level and has honours to their name.
Youth Discovery FileMatch data · ranked within position group
Discovery File № 01 — Centre-Backs Ages 16–18 · 2025/26 + 2026/27
01
LB
CB
Center Back · Italy
Leonardo
Bovio
Youth side
Inter U19
Competition
UEFA Youth League 2025/26
Age · Foot
18 · Right
Nation
Italy
98RATING
Discovery rating · craft + output
Craft
87ELITE
Output
72ELITE
CRAFT
how cleanly they execute
87
Aerial Win Rate85.0%
ELITE · TOP 2%17 of 20
Long Ball Accuracy57.1%
ELITE · TOP 9%32 of 56
Ground Duel Win Rate68.2%
STRONG · TOP 14%15 of 22
OUTPUT
what they produce, per 90
72
Clearances8.29/90
ELITE · TOP 1%58 in season
Aerials Won2.43/90
ELITE · TOP 9%17 in season
Interceptions1.57/90
STRONG · TOP 17%11 in season
ROUTE THROUGH THE AGE GRADES
Italy · 15 youth caps · 0 goals
U15
 
U16
2 caps
U17
11 caps
U18
2 caps
U19
 
U20
 
U21
 
SENIOR
 
HONOURS & AWARDS 1 on file
⭐
Player of the Match ×1
1× UYL
Youth Discovery FileMatch data · ranked within position group
Discovery File № 02 — Centre-Backs Ages 16–18 · 2025/26 + 2026/27
02
SM
CB
Center Back · England
Stephen
Mfuni
→ Now at Coventry City (on loan)
Youth side
Manchester City U21
Competition
Premier League 2 2025/26
Age · Foot
18 · Left
Nation
England
94RATING
Discovery rating · craft + output
Craft
85ELITE
Output
63STRONG
CRAFT
how cleanly they execute
85
Ground Duel Win Rate72.3%
ELITE · TOP 2%60 of 83
Pass Accuracy91.7%
ELITE · TOP 5%848 of 925
Long Ball Accuracy53.8%
STRONG · TOP 14%49 of 91
OUTPUT
what they produce, per 90
63
Final-Third Passes13.1/90
ELITE · TOP 1%170 in season
Recoveries4.62/90
STRONG · TOP 19%60 in season
Interceptions1.38/90
STRONG · TOP 25%18 in season
ROUTE THROUGH THE AGE GRADESPLAYING UP
England · 35 youth caps · 0 goals
U15
 
U16
6 caps
U17
8 caps
U18
2 caps
U19
17 caps
U20
 
U21
2 caps
SENIOR
 
HONOURS & AWARDS +2 more on file
🏆
Premier League 2 Winner
Manchester City U21 · 2024/25
🏆
FA Youth Cup Winner
Manchester City U18 · 2023/24
🏆
Community Shield Winner
Manchester City · 2024/25
⭐
Player of the Match ×1
1× Championship
Youth Discovery FileMatch data · ranked within position group
Discovery File № 03 — Centre-Backs Ages 16–18 · 2025/26 + 2026/27
03
TN
CB
Center Back · Senegal
Talla
Ndiaye
Youth side
Liverpool U21
Competition
Premier League 2 2026/27
Age · Foot
18 · —
Nation
Senegal
94RATING
Discovery rating · craft + output
Craft
77ELITE
Output
70ELITE
CRAFT
how cleanly they execute
77
Aerial Win Rate93.1%
ELITE · TOP 1%27 of 29
Ground Duel Win Rate67.9%
STRONG · TOP 12%19 of 28
Long Ball Accuracy46.3%
SOLID · TOP 32%25 of 54
OUTPUT
what they produce, per 90
70
Aerials Won5.26/90
ELITE · TOP 1%27 in season
Clearances7.99/90
ELITE · TOP 2%41 in season
Final-Third Passes8.18/90
STRONG · TOP 22%42 in season
ROUTE THROUGH THE AGE GRADES
Senegal · 4 youth caps · 0 goals
U15
 
U16
 
U17
4 caps
U18
 
U19
 
U20
 
U21
 
SENIOR
 
HONOURS & AWARDS 1 on file
⭐
Player of the Match ×1
1× PL2 · 1× Premier League 2
Youth Discovery FileMatch data · ranked within position group
Discovery File № 04 — Centre-Backs Ages 16–18 · 2025/26 + 2026/27
04
MS
CB
Center Back · England
Marli
Salmon
Youth side
Arsenal U21
Competition
Premier League 2 2025/26
Age · Foot
17 · Right
Nation
England
92RATING
Discovery rating · craft + output
Craft
76ELITE
Output
69ELITE
CRAFT
how cleanly they execute
76
Ground Duel Win Rate73.3%
ELITE · TOP 1%63 of 86
Aerial Win Rate69.2%
STRONG · TOP 22%27 of 39
Pass Accuracy87.8%
STRONG · TOP 24%817 of 931
OUTPUT
what they produce, per 90
69
Dribbled Past0.06/90
ELITE · TOP 1%1 in season
Interceptions1.73/90
ELITE · TOP 6%29 in season
Blocks1.20/90
ELITE · TOP 7%20 in season
ROUTE THROUGH THE AGE GRADES
England · 4 youth caps · 0 goals
U15
 
U16
called up
U17
4 caps
U18
 
U19
 
U20
 
U21
 
SENIOR
 
HONOURS & AWARDS 2 on file
🏆
Premier League Winner
Arsenal · 2025/26
🏆
Community Shield Winner
Arsenal · 2026/27
Youth Discovery FileMatch data · ranked within position group
Discovery File № 05 — Centre-Backs Ages 16–18 · 2025/26 + 2026/27
05
KB
CB
Center Back · England
Kaden
Braithwaite
Youth side
Manchester City U21
Competition
Premier League 2 2025/26
Age · Foot
18 · Left
Nation
England
91RATING
Discovery rating · craft + output
Craft
84ELITE
Output
61SOLID
CRAFT
how cleanly they execute
84
Long Ball Accuracy76.1%
ELITE · TOP 1%67 of 88
Pass Accuracy93.4%
ELITE · TOP 2%1084 of 1161
Aerial Win Rate73.9%
STRONG · TOP 15%17 of 23
OUTPUT
what they produce, per 90
61
Final-Third Passes13.8/90
ELITE · TOP 1%189 in season
Recoveries4.76/90
STRONG · TOP 15%65 in season
Dribbled Past0.29/90
SOLID · TOP 26%4 in season
ROUTE THROUGH THE AGE GRADES
England · 32 youth caps · 1 goal
U15
3 caps
U16
3 caps
U17
16 caps · 1g
U18
10 caps
U19
called up
U20
 
U21
 
SENIOR
 
HONOURS & AWARDS +2 more on file
🏆
FA Youth Cup Winner ×2
Manchester City U18 · 2025/26, 2023/24
🏆
Premier League 2 Winner
Manchester City U21 · 2024/25
🏆
FA Cup Winner
Manchester City · 2025/26
🏆
EFL Cup Winner
Manchester City · 2025/26
Youth Discovery FileMatch data · ranked within position group