Aleksandar Pavlović, Jamie Gittens and Mathys Tel on final shortlist for Golden Boy 2024
The Bayern Munich duo of Aleksandar Pavlović and Mathys Tel and Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens have made the final 25-man shortlist for the Golden Boy 2024, awarded to the best U21 player in Europe.
Pavlović's nomination is reward for a breakout pro season with boyhood club Bayern. The 20-year-old midfielder made 25 senior appearances in 2023/24, whilst earning his first Germany caps, only missing out on a place in Julian Nagelsmann's UEFA Euro 2024 squad due to tonsilitis.
Munich-born Pavlović had Tel for company in the Bayern ranks, the 19-year-old French forward registering 10 goals and six assists across his 41 competitive appearances last term. Dortmund and English counterpart Gittens, meanwhile - aged 20 - helped his side reach the UEFA Champions League final and secure a top-five Bundesliga finish with his two goals and eight assists.
Watch: Aleksandar Pavlović - from ball boy to Bayern player
Jude Bellingham won last year's award between moving from Dortmund to Real Madrid, while Mario Götze (2011), Renato Sanches (2016) and Erling Haaland (2020) were all named Europe's Golden Boy while plying their trade in the Bundesliga.
Since its inception in 2003, no team has produced more Golden Boy winners than Dortmund (three), with the award presented by the Italian sports newspaper “Tuttosport” and the victory chosen by a jury of experts.
The final shortlist in full is as follows:
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
João Neves (PSG)
Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)
Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)
Savio (Manchester City)
Rico Lewis (Manchester City)
Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich)
Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
Jorrel Hato (Ajax)
Leny Yoro (Manchester United)
Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)
Kenan Yildiz (Juventus)
Christian Mosquera (Valencia)
Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Arda Güler (Real Madrid)
Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich)
Desiré Doué (PSG)
Oscar Gloukh (Salzburg)
Samu Omorodion (Porto)
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