Adam Wharton, Johan Bakayoko and each Euro 2024 team’s potential breakout star

After a disappointing loan spell at Fulham in the second half of the season, Armando Broja is in dire need of something to kickstart his career; starring at Euro 2024 for underdogs Albania would do just that. He is expected to be sold by Chelsea in the summer, and scoring a few goals in Germany could put him in the shop window and earn him a decent move.

A smooth-passing midfielder who won’t shirk a battle, Nicolas Seiwald has become a key figure under Austria boss Ralf Rangnick. The 23-year-old RB Leipzig man has had to be patient at club level after following the well-trodden path from Red Bull Salzburg last summer, but he will be a starter in Germany. “He is an extraordinary player for his age,” Rangnick said in 2022.

Belgium will usher in a new era in their first major tournament since the likes of Eden Hazard and Toby Alderweireld retired from international football, and Johan Bakayoko figures to be a big part of their future. The 21-year-old will be tussling with Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku and Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard of Arsenal for a starting place out wide, and he could be lining up against them next season having already been strongly linked with Liverpool. He can seal the deal if he catches the eye at Euro 2024.

Both products of the famed Dinamo Zagreb academy, Croatia have a centre-back partnership that could serve them for years in Josip Sutalo and Josko Gvardiol. The former had a strong season despite Ajax’s struggles, and the 24-year-old could give himself the chance to make his own jump to one of Europe’s top five leagues if he is able to make an impression alongside the Man City man in Germany, amid links to Arsenal.

Ladislav Krejci is a bona fide goal-scoring centre-back and will make an impression if an unfancied Czech side can hold their own at the Euros. Also capable of playing at the base of the midfield, Krejci made a ridiculous 18 goal contributions in all competitions for Sparta Prague this season, and he is invaluable to the team as a left-footer. The 25-year-old’s contract expires in 2025, so he has an excellent opportunity to put himself in the shop window.

Among a plethora of players to see their reputation burgeon after making a low-cost move to Sporting CP in recent years, Hjulmand’s impressive displays in Portugal have seen him linked with some of Europe’s leading clubs. The 24-year-old only made his senior Denmark debut in September 2023, but he seems to be becoming an increasingly important presence in an area of the pitch where his country have a lot of quality. A strong tournament could be the catalyst for a big-money transfer.

Casual Premier League viewers were probably shocked to see 20-year-old Adam Wharton included in the provisional England squad, but anyone who has seen Crystal Palace under Oliver Glasner will know he fully deserves his place in the final 26. A smooth-passing, intelligent player with huge potential, he is the latest outstanding midfielder to emerge from England, following on swiftly from fellow youngsters Jude Bellingham and Kobbie Mainoo. But while those two are shining at two of Europe’s biggest clubs, Wharton has been going quietly about his work at Palace. He is ready for the grand stage if he is given his chance.

The France squad is littered with big names who have already established a reputation for themselves in Europe and across the globe, but Youssouf Fofana is arguably still awaiting the recognition he deserves at 25. The rangy midfield destroyer has been an ever-present, solid player for Monaco since joining the principality club in 2020. Despite flirting with a move away, he is still plying his trade there, but, with one year left on his contract, if he is given an opportunity to show what he can do in Germany then a big transfer could beckon. He is exactly the kind of defensive-minded midfielder so many clubs seems to be looking for.

Sold by Metz to Ajax in the summer after an outstanding 2022-23 season in Ligue 2, Georges Mikautadze was loaned back to the French side in January having struggled in the Netherlands and rediscovered his goal-scoring touch in familiar surroundings. The forward comes into the tournament in red-hot form having finished the campaign by scoring eight times in just seven games. The 23-year-old will hope to get the service from the likes of Napoli star and Georgian talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to enable him to show what he can do in the spotlight.

Young Maximilian Beier enjoyed a breakthrough season in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim, and he will be dreaming of following that up with a breakout international campaign with his country on home soil. The rangy 21-year-old scored 16 league goals in Germany, but faces some serious attacking competition with the national team. Nevertheless, he has shown that he has the ability to make a name for himself with is pace, versatility and finishing ability.

Casual Premier League viewers will have heard the name Milos Kerkez a few times this season as Bournemouth increasingly impressed under Andoni Iraola. In Hungary, though, he is potentially the next big thing. Although he plays at left-back at club level, he is deployed further forward as a wing-back for his country and, aged 20, he has all the attributes to become one of the best in the business as an attacking full-back. Hungary have an outside chance of making it out of a group that contains Germany, Switzerland and Scotland, and Kerkez will hope to catch the eye.

Bologna’s qualification for the Champions League was one of the stories of the European season, and Riccardo Calafiori’s performances were a big reason for their success. The Roma academy graduate arrived back in Italy from Basel last summer as a left-back in need of development, but manager Thiago Motta instead converted the 22-year-old into a central defender, and he thrived in Serie A. Calafiori is now being tipped to follow Motta to Juventus this summer, but not before representing Italy at the Euros, where he has a chance to start due to the Azzurri’s injury issues in defence.

Despite his limited senior experience, PSV’s Jerdy Schouten has been included in the the final Dutch squad and will hope to make an impression. A rangy defensive midfielder, he is adept at reading the game and stepping in to make an interception, while is comfortable progressing play with both his dribbling ability and passing, too. Something of a late bloomer at 27, he could set himself up for a move to one of Europe’s top leagues if he can seize his opportunities.

Probably one of the top performers in Europe this season who you might not have heard of; Sebastian Szymanski is gearing up for Euro 2024 after an exceptional individual campaign for Fenerbahce, during which he contributed 13 goals and 19 assists from attacking midfield. Despite those impressive numbers, he is not necessarily a guaranteed starter for Poland, with Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski the creator-in-chief in a crowded five-man midfield. However, if manager Michal Probierz wanted to take a more forward-thinking approach, then the versatile attacker should be first in line in a team that could use his creativity.

Portugal just keep producing quality players, and Goncalo Inacio is going to form a key part of the latest generation. He may well be battling Benfica’s Antonio Silva and Porto veteran Pepe for a starting place alongside Ruben Dias at centre-back, but the 22-year-old Sporting man has all the attributes to win that fight. Already linked with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United, Inacio will hope to have the opportunity to show those unfamiliar with his work what he can do in Germany.

Perhaps burdened by his father’s famous name, Ianis Hagi will hope to finally forge his own path for unfancied Romania at Euro 2024. Having had an injury-hit career to date, Hagi stayed fit this season on loan at Alaves from Rangers. The 25-year-old attacking midfielder needs something to kickstart his career, though, and an impressive showing in Germany could be the tonic. He’s in good form for his country, with five goal contributions in five games.

This title would have belonged to Lewis Ferguson, had the Bologna midfielder not been cruelly denied his place in the Scotland squad by an untimely ACL injury, while fellow absentee Nathan Patterson would have been next in line. So, then, it will have to go to ex-Chelsea man Billy Gilmour, who has of course been around the block, but finally enjoyed something of a breakthrough campaign as he got plenty of minutes under his belt for Brighton. The smooth-passing midfielder could become a key figure alongside Scott McTominay for Steve Clarke’s side.

Despite being highly regarded, Torino’s Ivan Ilic has yet to nail down a starting place with his country, with more experienced options preferred to the 23-year-old midfielder. It may take one impressive cameo, but if he can force his way into the coach’s plans he will be one to watch for perennial dark horses Serbia. Displacing the likes of Dusan Tadic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will be no mean feat, though.

A key player for his country, Feyenoord defender David Hancko will be looking forward to playing a major role at Euro 2024 having seen just six minutes of action at the last European Championship. Despite being a centre-back by trade, the 26-year-old plays at left-back at international level. He became an important attacking weapon in qualifying, making five goal contributions, and he will hope to carry that form into the tournament proper amid transfer links with the Premier League.

Jan Oblak and Benjamin Sesko are the star names for Slovenia, but Udinese defender Jaka Bijol also forms an important part of the spine of the team. A ball-playing centre-back who is also capable of playing in midfield, Bijol was ever-present in an impressive qualification campaign for the Slovenians as they lost just twice. He will be hoping to catch the eye by shutting down the likes of England’s Harry Kane in the group stage

Athletic Club winger Nico Williams will be hoping to start for Spain in Germany after a strong individual campaign that has seen him linked with Chelsea and Arsenal, among others. A tricky winger with blistering pace, he will pose a serious threat from Spain’s left after making 25 goal contributions during the club season, including 17 assists. If he’s able to impress at the Euros, then his €50 million (£43m/$53m) release clause will start to look very attractive indeed to any suitors.

Turnover of players is always limited in the experienced and stable Swiss squad, but Bologna winger Dan Ndoye will be a fresh face in Germany. The 23-year-old caught the eye with some virtuoso performances in his club’s remarkable charge to the Champions League in Serie A, and he will be hoping to cap his campaign with a strong showing at Euro 2024. However, his manager’s tactical rigidity could see him shoehorned into a left wing-back role.

Despite posting decent numbers after joining Benfica from Feyenoord in the summer, Orkun Kokcu isn’t happy with the way things have progressed and will potentially be putting himself in the shop window at the Euros with Turkey. The creative midfielder feels he has been misused at club level, and there are rumours of a potential reunion with his former boss Arne Slot at Liverpool. A storming European Championship campaign could go some way to making that a reality.

An outstanding talent, Georgiy Sudakov has been in and around the Ukraine senior squad for some time, but it feels as though this tournament arrives as the perfect moment for the 21-year-old attacking midfielder. Sudakov has starred in a dominant Shakhtar Donetsk side, with his performances and 16 goal contributions this season seemingly piquing the interest of Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea. Valued at a cool £65m ($83m), Shakhtar’s CEO has already admitted he will leave this summer for “a top club”, and a strong Euro 2024 showing could seal the deal.