Premier League: Estevao Willian, Simon Adingra, 'Little Messi', 'The Spider'

Wildcards, breakouts and new faces - 21 Premier League players to watch

Wia dis foto come from, BBC Sport

Author, Chris Bevan Role, BBC Sport journalist

2 hours wey don pass

You don sabi di big names wey dey Premier League already, but wetin you go tok about di surprise players wey fit blow this season?

Weda na new signings, players wey just dey shine now, or young talents from academy, we dey tok about di faces wey pipo never too sabi, old and young wey dey hope say dis season go be dia time to shine.

For hia, BBC Sport TV and radio commentators don pick 21 players wey you suppose watch well-well for di next few months - plus one manager wey fit shock pipo too.

1. Estevao Willian - Chelsea

Age: 18 Position: Winger Kontri: Brazil

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, Estevao, nicknamed 'Messinho' or 'Little Messi', play for against Chelsea for di Fifa Club World Cup in June.

Conor McNamara: I bin dey run commentary wen Estevao play im first match for Chelsea against Bayer Leverkusen last week, and make I tok true, di boy na star.

Im show correct striker sense to score im first goal for Chelsea, as im quick react afta Cole Palmer shot hit crossbar. But Estevao sabi run wit ball fast-fast na im style be dat.

Im just reach 18 for April, but di Brazilian boy dey show say im no be small pikin for ball matter.

Even though e still early, e be like say im and Palmer dey understand each oda well. Wen Palmer backheel ball near di box against Leverkusen, Estevao don already know say e dey come im just fire shot sharp-sharp.

Mark Scott: I go run commentary for Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and na Estevao I dey ginger to watch pass.

Plenty pipo dey tok say na im be di ogbonge talent wey don come out from Brazil since Vinicius Junior. E don already show Chelsea fans small of wetin im fit do wen e score correct goal against dem for Club World Cup. Since den, e don dey shine for Chelsea shirt, especially for dat friendly win against Leverkusen.

Di way e take play dat day show why pipo dey hype am, im get mad skill wit ball, confidence full ground, and im dey run at defenders like say na play.

Estevao sabi play anywia for wing or even as number 10. Chelsea bin plan to introduce am small-small, but e be like say dem go need change dat plan now.

2. Joel Piroe - Leeds United

Age: 26 Position: Striker Kontri: Netherlands

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, Piroe win di Golden Boot as di Championship leading scorer last season, wit 19 goals to help Leeds win di title and promotion

Guy Mowbray: Dis guy na real wildcard sometimes e go play like say e sabi do eviritin, den next minute e go dey play like say e no sabi anytin at all and all na inside one match.

I get feeling say Leeds go sign new striker wey go start ahead of am before season begin, but I no go shock if dem still dey bring am in as sub wey fit change game and help dem collect one or two points early for di season.

3. Cristhian Mosquera - Arsenal

Age: 21 Position: Centre-back Kontri: Spain

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, Cristhian Mosquera, dey wit Gunners forward Kai Havertz on di club pre-season tour

James Fielden: All di players wey I pick come from di Uefa youth tournaments wey I cover during summer and Mosquera no really get wahala at all for di Under-21 tournament wey happun for Slovakia.

Di guy sabi defend front foot and dey aggressive wen e need to, e dey veri confident to push forward and join attack. Plus, e get speed to recover wen Spanish defence dey shake small e be like player wey Mikel Arteta go like.

Weda e fit remove di big names wey dey already for Arsenal defence na anoda mata, but Arsenal don dey get injury wahala for centre-back, and Mosquera don only miss three matches for Valencia in two seasons. For di £13 million wey dem tok say Arsenal pay, e be like low risk buy wey fit bring big gain.

4. Dan Ndoye - Nottingham Forest

Age: 24 Position: Forward or winger Kontri: Switzerland

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, Ndoye signature goal celebration na reference to im Senegalese heritage

Steve Bower: Dan Ndoye na fresh player for Premier League and e fit be anoda smart buy wey Nottingham Forest don make.

Na for Europa Conference League wit Basel I first notice am, and later for Champions League wit Bologna.

I don also cover Switzerland team for BBC Sport during di last two big tournaments, and Ndoye don slowly turn to key player for im kontri.

As Anthony Elanga don comot, Ndoye dey look like one kain exciting replacement wey Forest fans go enjoy. At 24 years, e don get better experience and e dey ready to face Premier League wahala.

5. El Hadji Malick Diouf - West Ham

Age: 20 Position: Left-back or left wing-back Kontri: Senegal

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, Di West Ham website report say as a boy, Diouf enjoy to dey watch Real Madrid and Brazil left-back Marcelo

Ian Dennis: Plenty Senegal players show demsefs wen dem beat England for City Ground in June, but na El Hadji Malick Diouf stand out pass.

As I dey do commentary for 5 Live dat night, I mention say Brighton and Hove Albion dey show interest, so I no shock say e don land for Premier League, West Ham don get better player.

Diouf fit play as left-back or wing-back, and e sabi run up and down well. E dey dynamic, get correct crossing skill, and e go be serious threat wen e dey attack.

Last season, e score seven goals for Slavia Prague, and I believe say West Ham fans go quickly fall in love wit am.

6. Emmanuel Agbadou - Wolves

Age: 28 Position: Centre-back Kontri: Ivory Coast

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, 6ft 4in centre-half Agbadou na captain of im former club, French side Reims

Tom Gayle: For me, Emmanuel Agbadou na one of di best signings wey Premier League see during January transfer window. Wolves bin need better defender, and di Ivorian don fill dat space well afta Max Kilman waka comot five months ago.

Agbadou sabi read game well and im positioning dey sharp combine dat wit im strong bodi like boxer and im athletic moves like gymnast na one of di hardest players to face one-on-one.

Wetin still make am stand out na im confidence. Inside im own box, e dey collect ball under pressure, turn, play long passes, and even carry ball pass half line. Dat kind calm style help Pereira team play more aggressive for second half of di season.

Di way e take enter Premier League dey show say pipo wey still dey call Ligue 1 "Farmer's League" need to rethink. I believe say Agbadou fan club go grow well dis season especially if e kontinu dey take goal-kicks wey dey give dat correct Sunday league vibe.

7. Simon Adingra - Sunderland

Age: 23 Position: Winger Kontri: Ivory Coast

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, Adingra follow for Ivory Coast 2023 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and provide both assists in a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in di final

Jonathan Pearce: I dey wish Simon Adingra better luck for Sunderland. Dis Ivorian guy get talent and im first season for Brighton make sense - e even score for Ajax wey make di travelling fans go crazy.

E start last season well too four goals in im first eight games but later e lose confidence for im dribbling. E come dey try too hard to hold im position as Yankuba Minteh dey challenge am, and e affect how e dey play.

I hope say Sunderland fans go dey excited to see am. £18 million no too much for player wey deserve to succeed for dis new beginning.

8. Jhon Arias - Wolves

Age: 27 Position: Winger or attacking midfielder Kontri: Colombia

Wia dis foto come from, Reuters Wetin we call dis foto, One of Arias nicknames na 'The Colombian Pele' but in Brazil dem bin call am The Little Engine'

Conor McNamara: I dey US for Club World Cup wen Jhon Arias play him last games for Fluminense, and na one of di best players for di tournament. Di guy collect three man-of-di-match awards.

E don reach 27 years, so e dey for im peak old enof to no fear Premier League wahala.

Di Colombian go wear di No.10 shirt wey Matheus Cunha leave behind. E don already score im first goal for Wolves during friendly against Girona e show mad dribbling skill, run enter box, den finish am wit close-range shot.

Arias na my top pick among all di new signings dis summer I believe say e go blow well.

9. Diego Coppola - Brighton

Age: 21 Position: Centre-back Kontri: Italy

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, A 6ft 4in defender, Coppola come through di Hellas Verona academy and make im first-team debut a few days before e turn 18 in 2021

James Fielden: I watch Coppola play two times for European Under-21 Championship during summer, and na against Spain and Germany so na better matches to judge am against top teams.

Brighton don do dia homework well before di Euros as dem announce di deal while tournament still dey go and you fit see why dem ready to put am inside dia defence wey dey change shape.

Coppola strong and dey control tins for centre also like to pass ball short or long and na all dos qualities plus oda stats wey make Brighton fall for am.

10. Romain Esse - Crystal Palace

Age: 20 Position: Midfield Kontri: England

Wia dis foto come from, Rex Features Wetin we call dis foto, Esse dey Palace squad for Sunday Community Shield win over Liverpool but e no play

Mark Scott: Pipo dey feel buzz wen Crystal Palace sign Romain Esse from Championship in January. Di excitement come increase wen e score im first Premier League goal just 25 seconds wen e enta pitch for him debut but afta dat, e no really get much game time.

E no easy to remove players like Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr from attack, but Esse don show for Millwall say e sabi face defenders, cross ball well, and even cut inside to shoot.

If Palace fit qualify from dia Conference League play-off, di extra matches for Europe go give Esse more chance to show wetin e get.

11. Harry Howell - Brighton

Age: 17 Position: Midfield Country: England

Wia dis foto come from, PA Media Wetin we call dis foto, Howell became Brighton youngest Premier League player wen e came off di bench to make im debut

Guy Mowbray: I go tok true I neva watch am play before... but na name wey plenty pipo don mention to me dis summer and some of dem know ball well-well!

As dem tok about anoda teenager wey blow for Premier League before "make you remember di name."

Jonathan Pearce: Brighton fans will be praying that Carlos Baleba stays put and that Yankuba Minteh continues his dramatic improvement. But there's another youngster ready to leap off the Amex talent conveyor belt.

Jonathan Pearce: Brighton fans go dey pray say Carlos Baleba no go comot, and say Yankuba Minteh go kontinu to improve sharp-sharp. But anoda young star dey ready to jump out from Brighton talent factory.

I really like wetin I see wen Howell play small minutes for second-to-last game last season. E help dem win wit im front-foot style fearless, direct, and e dey run at defenders witout fear.

Im cousin, Jack Hinshelwood, get breakthrough last season maybe 2025-26 go be Harry Howell's own season to shine.

12. Jair Cunha - Nottingham Forest

Age: 20 Position: Centre-back Kontri: Brazil

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, Cunha sign a five-year contract wit Forest in June

Conor McNamara: Jair Cunha na anoda player wey I see play this summer for Club World Cup. Di guy tall 6ft 6in and e strong join for 20 years old, e big well-well.

Cunha use im height score header for Botafogo against Seattle Sounders, but wetin really catch attention dat day na how calm e dey defend even pass di goal wey e score. E dey comfortable to control ball inside tight space, wia oda players go just clear am anyhow.

If we go follow logic, e suppose still dey raw, because e never play plenty senior football just 46 games so far. But dis guy get serious presence. E be key player for Brazil team wey win Under-20 South American Championship dis year.

13. Max Dowman - Arsenal

Age: 15 Position: Midfielder Kontri: England

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, Dowman first train wit Arsenal first team wen e be 14

Ian Dennis: I dey wait make I see Arsenal Max Dowman play live, becos di last time wey I hear dis kain hype around young player na wen Wayne Rooney first show.

I dey tok to plenty scouts, and dem don dey praise dis 'gifted' attacking midfielder for some time now.

Na so e be, I even tok wit Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice last season, and na dat time e tok say, "Max na di best 15-year-old for di whole kontri."

Na for March I sidon wit Rice, and e tok say pipo just dey send am messages about Max, say dem watch am play and dey shout "wow, see talent!"

Dowman no go turn 16 until 31 December, but e dey sound like real deal.

James Fielden: E fit no be new hot take to say Dowman go be big name in future, but afta I watch am play for Uefa Under-17 Championship dis summer, I understand why e go give defenders wahala anywia e play behind striker.

E be one of di new generation of English players wey dey move for pitch wit smooth style sometin we no too dey see befor. E go dey interesting to know wetin Arteta plan for am whether e go get game time outside domestic cup matches, and which position dem go use am play.

Make we just hope say dem go manage am well, both for club and national level, so e fit reach im full potential.

14. Habib Diarra - Sunderland

Age: 21 Position: Midfielder Kontri: Senegal

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, Diarra cost Sunderland a reported £30m from French side Strasbourg in July

Guy Mowbray: Pesin fit ask how club record signing go be 'wildcard'? But since Diarra still dey new to most Premier League fans, I go put am for dat category.

Di guy na just 21-years-old, and Sunderland beat Leeds to sign am. Last season, e captain Strasbourg reach European qualification, and e score one of Senegal's three goals against England for City Ground in June.

Wen I go watch Sunderland pre-season match against Sporting last month, na im quality really stand out.

15. Rio Ngumoha - Liverpool

Age: 16 Position: Winger Country: England

Wia dis foto come from, EPA Wetin we call dis foto, Ngumoha impress for Liverpool pre-season double-header against Athletic Bilbao

Steve Bower: Pipo wey dey academy football don tell me about Rio Ngumoha since over one year ago. Dem tok say Chelsea vex well as dem lose di young baller, and say Liverpool gain big.

Arne Slot no waste time to involve am for first-team training quick, and we see am become di youngest player to start match for Liverpool in January FA Cup.

E never even reach 17 na end of August e go clock am but I hear say inside Liverpool, pipo dey very excited about am di goals wey e score for pre-season don make di hype even louder.

Sometimes, young player go see chance grab am and as Luis Diaz don comot, e be like say Ngumoha go dey with first team throughout di season.

Conor McNamara: For January, I run commentary for Match of di Day wen Ngumoha become di youngest player to start match for Liverpool just 16 years and 135 days old for di 4-0 win against Accrington in FA Cup.

To make us feel old, di song wey dey number one for chart di day wey e born na Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl!"

Dat time, nobodi too sabi am I even need Slot to help me pronounce im name well.

But dat FA Cup match na di only first-team game wey e play e no even make bench for Premier League match till season end.

But di way e take play dis pre-season dey show say tins fit change dis time. E still young, and we sabi say competition for Liverpool squad dey tough, but Ngumoha get spark wey fit make difference.

16. Thierno Barry - Everton

Age: 22 Position: Striker Kontri: France

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, Everton new £27m striker wey im nickname na 'L'Araignee' wey mean 'The Spider'

Guy Mowbray: I don check him stats and watch some clips online, and I dey really hope say e go make big and quick impact for Everton.

E still raw, no doubt, but di talent dey dia for David Moyes to work wit.

E don tey wey Everton get strong striker wey dey deliver steady. Dixie Dean, Tommy Lawton, Joe Royle, Bob Latchford, Andy Gray, Duncan Ferguson… maybe Thierno Barry go join dat list?

And if Barry no deliver how about make Beto show imself as one kain wildcard too?

17. Josh King - Fulham

Age: 18 Position: Midfield Kontri: England

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, King rise through di ranks for Fulham academy

Tom Gayle: E be like say di time don reach for Fulham to free Josh King make e show wetin e get. As I write for February, di club don get wahala before to hold onto young talents, so e no shock say dem dey use slow-slow method to develop am and give am small-small first-team chance.

If you look well, di fact say King sign new long-term contract for July, im second deal in just over 18 months, dey shout two things, a) other clubs don dey eye am, b) Fulham believe say di boy don 'ready for Premier League'.

To get regular game time no go easy sha as e be now, players like Andreas Pereira and Emile Smith Rowe wey be club record signing get stronger claim to dat number 10 position pass di teenager.

But I sure say dem don give King assurance say im go get more Premier League minutes dis season. Manager Marco Silva sabi say di tight schedule go surely give di boy im chance and wit di way King don perform for im small-small appearances, I believe say once dem give am opportunity, e go shine well.

18. Jaka Bijol - Leeds United

Age: 26 Position: Centre-back Kontri: Slovenia

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, Bijol sign a five-year contract wit Leeds wen joining in June for a fee in di region of £15m

Conor McNamara: Leeds new centre-back wey come from Udinese na very interesting signing. I don dey wonder for some years now why Champions League club never grab am.

Di only wahala wey e get be say e dey mis-time sliding tackles sometimes, and na sometin wey e go need correct for Premier League wey dey hot and fast but apart from dat, e get all di qualities e strong for air, e dey mobile, and e fit deliver accurate long pass from far.

I do commentary for some of im matches for Slovenia during last summer Euros for Germany and e play well against big strikers like Harry Kane, Rasmus Hojlund, Alexander Mitrovic, and Cristiano Ronaldo none of dem score against Bijol for di tournament.

19. Harrison Armstrong - Everton

Age: 18 Position: Midfield Kontri: England

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, Dem born Armstrong, wey captain England Under-18s against France in March for Liverpool and joined Everton aged five

Steve Bower: As Everton dey struggle for transfer market dis summer, Blues fans dey hope say one of dia own go get chance to make impact.

I see Harrison Armstrong start for Goodison during FA Cup win over Peterborough for January, before e go Championship for loan wit Derby wey make sense.

E still be just 18, and e fit play different roles for attack.

E go need patience, but e go dey hope say e fit follow players like Ross Barkley and Anthony Gordon, wey grab dia chance wen e show.

20. Charalampos Kostoulas - Brighton

Age: 18 Position: Forward Kontri: Greece

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, Kostoulas wey dem dey call 'Babis' wen e still dey play as small pikin, later get new nickname for Olympiakos – 'Babis-stuta'.

Mark Scott: Brighton track record of buying cheap and selling big dey make city traders jealous, but di £30m wey dem spend on Charalampos Kostoulas na di second highest wey dem don ever use buy player.

Di Seagulls no dey miss target like dat and dem no even shake to drop dat kain money for 18-year-old wey just get one season of senior football.

Di guy don show say e sabi play different roles as e first shine as number nine for academy level, before e switch well to second striker role wen e enter first team for Olympiakos.

E body strong well-well too, one of im former coach tok say di power wey e get for im age na "extraordinary". Maybe e go turn out to be anoda Brighton correct bargain.

21. Justin Devenny - Crystal Palace

Age: 21 Position: Midfield Kontri: Northern Ireland

Wia dis foto come from, Reuters Wetin we call dis foto, Devenny, wey dey show hia as e score im Wembley penalty against Liverpool

Jonathan Pearce: Jason Devenny catch my eye di moment wey I see am for Palace 2-2 draw wit Aston Villa last November. Na only im second game. E score, but pass dat one, e dey find ball. E hungry to make impact.

E really make dat impact wit di winning Community Shield shootout penalty against Liverpool last Sunday. E no go ever forget dat and I get feeling say e go get big season.

And one manager... Keith Andrews - Brentford

Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images Wetin we call dis foto, Andrews na di 98th permanent (no be caretaker or interim) managerial appointment wey Premier League club don make since June 2015, but na only di sixth wey be first-time manager. From di oda five - Mike Phelan (Hull, 2016), Craig Shakespeare (Leicester, 2017), Scott Parker (Fulham, 2019), Mikel Arteta (Arsenal, 2019) and Gary O'Neil (Bournemouth, 2022) - na only Parker and Arteta last pass seven months as permanent manager for that position.

Conor McNamara: E clear say e no be player again, but I go still put Keith for di 'wildcard' category.

True, di appointment don make plenty pipo raise eyebrow but I don work wit am steady as co-commentator before for Irish TV.

Im ginger and di way e dey tok dey impress me well. Because I sabi am from work, for recent seasons my eye dey always go meet am befor match wen Sheffield United or Brentford dey warm up and, even though e be assistant dat time, e always dey center of everitin and dey tok wit players steady.

Di Brentford owners don build reputation for making correct decisions, and dem no go just rush do dis one. Dem don see am close, and dem don hear wetin di squad tok about how dem like him style.

Click here to read article