The term ‘wonderkid’ has been thrown about regularly since the Premier League ’s inception in 1992.
It’s only natural to get excited when a relatively-unknown name emerges from the academy to star in the top flight. Some have gone on to become the best players in the Premier League - with Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard among the star-studded names.
However, there are others who didn't manage to reach the heights expected of them. Some have faded into obscurity, while others remain Premier League players to this day.
And not all of them are veterans signed as squad players Take a look at nine examples of wonderkids still plying their trade in the top-flight..
Calum Chambers
Chambers, now 29 years old, initially emerged onto the scene in 2012 with boyhood club Southampton. Arsenal immediately spotted his promise and secured his signature for £16m.
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He stayed in North London for seven-and-a-half years and had loan spells with Middlesbrough and Fulham. After 122 appearances for Arsenal, Chambers was sold to Aston Villa in 2022.
He has made just 32 outings since, with his opportunities dwindling season upon season. The three-time England international made only his second Premier League appearance in Villa’s 4-1 defeat against Manchester City.
Arsenal signed Calum Chambers from Southampton in 2014 (Getty Images)Who do you think is the most promising youngster in the Premier League? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Michael Keane
From one former England international to another, Keane started his career as a promising talent at Manchester United. He made five appearances for the Red Devils, while also enjoying loan spells with Leicester, Derby and Blackburn.
Keane quit Old Trafford in 2014 in a permanent move to Burnley and went on to become one of the most promising centre-backs in the country. After three years at Turf Moor, Keane was on the move again in 2017 with a £25m move to Everton.
Keane, now 31, has made over 200 appearances for the Toffees but has made just four Premier League starts this term. His most recent league outing came in December.
Rob Holding
The third of a trio of centre-backs to have been on the fringes of the England squad, Holding first made his name with Bolton. Arsenal moved for the then 20-year-old’s signature for a bargain fee after just one campaign.
Holding was a Gunner for seven years and twice won the FA Cup in North London. The defender brought his spell at Arsenal to a close at the start of the current campaign with a move to Crystal Palace.
The move to Selhurst Park has not quite gone to plan, with Holding only making one appearance for the Eagles so far.
Rob Holding was signed by Arsenal when he was just 20 (Getty Images)Reece Burke
A product of the West Ham academy, big things were expected of Burke following his emergence. The former England under-20 international struggled for football with the Hammers and had loan spells with Bradford, Wigan and Bolton.
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He eventually departed West Ham in the summer of 2018 with a switch to Championship side Hull City. Burke helped the Tigers to promotion from League One in his final season before a free transfer to Luton.
Burke earned promotion back to the Premier League with the Hatters and has since made 15 appearances for the side as they attempt to stave off the threat of relegation.
Nathan Redmond
A one-time England international, Redmond is surprisingly just 30. He started his career with boyhood club Birmingham way back in 2010.
He was soon snapped up by Norwich in 2013 and spent a total of three seasons at Carrow Road ahead of a move to the South Coast with Southampton. The winger was a Saint for seven seasons in all - going on to make 195 appearances for the club across a successful stint.
Redmond left ahead of Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League to join Turkish side Besiktas. He was there for just one season before returning to England with Burnley.
Nathan Redmond is still just 30 (Getty Images)Will Hughes
Somehow still just 28, Will Hughes has gone on to have a very solid Premier League career. The midfielder started his career with Derby where he went on to harness the reputation of one of the most promising players in the EFL.
Watford swooped for his services in 2017 as they paid the Rams £8m. Hughes helped the Hornets stay in the Premier League for three seasons before they suffered from relegation.
After helping Watford back to the top-flight, Hughes then moved to Crystal Palace - where he remains to this day.
Scott Carson
Okay, we’re kind of cheating here. Veteran goalkeeper Scott Carson has not played a Premier League game since the 2020/21 season and has not made an appearance of any kind in over two years.
He still remains as part of Manchester City ’s playing staff though. It is just the latest chapter in what is a storied career.
Carson kicked off his career as a promising young goalkeeper with Leeds in 2003. The now 38-year-old went on to play for Liverpool, West Brom, Wigan, Derby and even Turkish side Bursaspor before moving to the Etihad.
Scott Carson is still with Manchester City (Getty Images)Enes Unal
Staying at the Etihad, we’re at the other end of the spectrum for our latest offering. After starting his career with Bursaspor, forward Unal was snapped up by Manchester City in 2015 as a 17-year-old.
He never made an appearance for City as he was regularly sent on loan to the Eredivisie before a move to Spain with Villarreal. Unal then found a home at Getafe.
In a move that may have gone under the radar, the striker joined Bournemouth on loan in January and scored his first Premier League goal in a 2-2 draw with Sheffield United.
Malang Sarr
Rounding off the list is a man who has not appeared in the Premier League since May 2022. Malang Sarr had harnessed the reputation as one of the most promising youngsters in Europe with Nice.
Chelsea made a move for his services in 2020 and signed him on a five-year contract. Sarr was immediately sent out on loan to Porto and then returned to make 21 appearances in his second season as a Chelsea player.
Opportunities soon dried up as he was sent to Monaco last term. He has not been seen since and was not even given a squad number for the current campaign. Sarr is still just 25 so still has time to salvage his career.
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