Real Madrid loanee star man in U21 Team of the Month across Europe
Here we run through the best WhoScored rated XI from Europe’s top five leagues for the month of September, comprised of players aged 21 or under at the beginning of the month.
Goalkeeper: Aaron Ramsdale (Bournemouth) – 7.29 rating
Many thought Bournemouth would go out and sign a new goalkeeper in the summer but Eddie Howe opted instead to promote from within, with Aaron Ramsdale emerging as their new No.1. The 21-year-old made more saves than any other goalkeeper aged 21 and under in Europe’s top leagues last month (14) and even registered an assist in a 3-1 win away to south coast rivals Southampton.
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) – 7.45 rating
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored his first league goal of the season in September, netting a stunning free-kick in a 2-1 win away to Chelsea. The England international gained a WhoScored rating in excess of 7.00 in all three of his Premier League appearances last month, as Liverpool maintained their perfect start to the league campaign.
Centre-back: Fikayo Tomori (Chelsea) – 7.61 rating
Fikayo Tomori started September in tremendous fashion by scoring his first Chelsea goal in their 5-2 win away to Wolves. Furthermore, only two players aged 21 and under made more tackles and interceptions combined than Tomori (21) in Europe’s top five leagues last month. The 21-year-old also completed a dribble in each of his September appearances in the Premier League.
Centre-back: Axel Disasi (Reims) – 7.05 rating
Reims defender Axel Disasi earned a WhoScored rating in four of his five league appearances last month to join Tomori at the heart of the defence in this best rated XI. Reims kept three clean sheets in that time, including in successive matches against Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain. Disasi blocked more shots than any other player aged 21 and under in Europe’s top five leagues last season (seven).
Left-back: Achraf Hakimi (Borussia Dortmund) – 7.65 rating
Achraf Hakimi’s lowest WhoScored rating in a Bundesliga game in September was 7.12, coming in Borussia Dortmund’s 2-2 draw with Frankfurt. The 20-year-old registered one assist in their 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen midway through the month and only two players aged 21 and under in Europe’s top five leagues completed more dribbles than the Real Madrid loanee (11) last month.
Right wing: Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) – 7.46 rating
September was another highly productive month for rising Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho and it is not surprising there are fresh reports linking the 19-year-old with a move to Manchester United. Sancho played a direct hand in two goals in three appearances and completed eight dribbles. The England international registered five key passes, while impressively boasting a pass success rate of 91.9% in Dortmund’s final game of the month.
Central midfield: Declan Rice (West Ham) – 7.55 rating
Declan Rice finished September strongly with a WhoScored Man of the Match display in West Ham’s 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth. Rice boasted a thoroughly impressive pass success rate of 95.2% over three league starts for the Hammers last month, while winning 21 tackles and interceptions combined in that period.
Central midfield: Martin Odegaard (Real Sociedad) – 7.88 rating
Martin Odegaard has arguably been one of the best players in LaLiga this season and his performances have not gone without notice around the continent. The Real Madrid loanee ranked top for key passes (17) and accurate through balls (three) of players aged 21 and under in Europe’s top five leagues last month, while scoring or assisting in three of his four league appearances. Furthermore, no player won possession in the attacking third more times than Odegaard last month (six).
Left wing: Javairo Dilrosun (Hertha Berlin) – 7.65 rating
Javairo Dilrosun was in terrific form for Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin last month, playing a direct hand in goal in all three appearances. The 21-year-old scored twice and registered two assists in that time, with no player aged 21 or under in Europe’s top five leagues playing a direct hand in more goals. Dilrosun’s notably display came in a 2-1 win over Paderborn where he played a direct hand in both goals to finish as the WhoScored Man of the Match.
Striker: Victor Osimhen (Lille) – 7.57 rating
Victor Osimhen continued his spellbinding start to the season with more terrific performances in the month of September. The 20-year-old played a direct hand in four goals in five league appearances last month and won successive WhoScored Man of the Match awards against Rennes and Strasbourg. Furthermore, only one player aged 21 and under in Europe’s top five leagues had more shots than Osimhen (16) last month.
Striker: Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) – 7.54 rating
Tammy Abraham answered his critics with superb goal scoring form in September, including becoming the first played aged 21 and under in Europe’s top five leagues this season to score a hat-trick. Abraham unsurprisingly earned the WhoScored Man of the Match after netting a treble in Chelsea’s 5-2 win away to Wolves midway through September.
