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.
13. Kai Fotheringham - Dundee United
The Tangerines forward was pivotal to last year's Scottish Championship title win, scoring 12 goals and assisting a further five. The Larbert-born player took his chance with both hands after impressing on loan at Stirling Albion the season previous, and now finds himself an important part of Jim Goodwin's squad. Valued at £320k. | SNS Group
14. Luca Stephenson - Dundee United
Signed on loan from Liverpool in the summer, the County Durham native was a highly-rated teenager at Sunderland before being snapped up by Liverpool in 2018. Now 20, he is looking to gain further first team exposure at newly promoted Dundee United. Has a reported value of £341k. | SNS Group
15. Matthew Anderson - Celtic
The young defender was impressive during the Hoops tour of the USA and has been linked with a loan move to Reading this week as he looks to aid his development further. Highly rated by the coaches at Celtic, Anderson is still just 20 and is showing promising signs. Had a reported market value of £341k. | SNS Group
16. Krisztian Hegyi - Motherwell
Brought in on a season-long loan from West Ham United, the Hungarian youth international goalkeeper showed potential in the Hammers youth development squads before gaining regular first team football at Dutch side Den Bosch. Will hope to challenge for the number one jersey with Aston Oxborough at Fir Park. Valued at £384k. | SNS Group