The Scottish Premiership is well and truly back following its summer break.
Celtic have made an extremely impressive start to the campaign, Rangers have been hugely underwhelming and Aberdeen have started like a train, having won all three of their opening games under new head coach Jimmy Thelin. It hasn’t been quite as successful in the capital though, with Hibs and Hearts picking up just one draw between them after a worrying start to the 24/25 season for both clubs.
With plenty of games to go though, clubs at the top and bottom of the table will be banking on their highest quality players, including a number of emerging youngsters, to produce the goods on the pitch in order to ignite their seasons.
A number of top youngsters are already showing promise across the league, with Rangers’ Connor Barron starting well in Glasgow, Aberdeen’s Topi Keskinen bagging an injury time winner on his debut and young Celtic defender Matthew Anderson impressing on the Hoops’ tour of America. But which young players will be the ones to keep an eye on this year? Who are the most highly rated teenager stars, and which club has the most exciting prospects?
Using popular statistics site TransferMarkt, we look at the 30 best young players in the Scottish Premiership, aged 21 or oder, ranked in order of transfer value, from lowest to highest.
5. Tobi Oluwayemi - Celtic
The 21-year-old Hoops stopper is a regular for the club's B team and has been capped by England at under-20 level. Spent last season on loan with Austrian second tier side Admira Wacker and was lauded for his shot stopping abilities. Oluwayemi has a reported value of £213k. | SNS Group
6. Kieran Bowie - Hibs
One of David Gray's big summer signings, Hibs paid a "significant" fee for the striker earlier this month. He has been touted for a big future at both club and international level by his new boss. Showed his goal scoring prowess at Northampton Town, where he spent the last two years on loan from Fulham, before moving to Easter Road this month. Has a reported market value of £213k. | SNS Group
7. Dylan Smith - Ross County
The Inverness born 18-year-old first broke into the Staggies team two seasons ago and has been a regular for Scotland's under-17 and under-19 teams. Will hope to get even more game time at Dingwall as he continues to mature at senior level. Valued at £213k. | SNS Group
8. Aiden Denholm - Ross County
The central-midfielder benefitted from a loan spell at East Fife in 22/23 and was able to break into Hearts first team last year, where he made 17 appearances for a team that finished in the Scottish Premiership's top three. Should develop even further this year after being loaned to the Staggies in order to get regular game. Still just 20, his best years are in front of him. He has a market value of £213k. | SNS Group