Credit: Imago

Danny Wright

Thu 16 October 2025 13:10, UK

Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall are candidates to win the 2025 Golden Boy award after impressing throughout the year at Tottenham.

Bergvall’s stunning form with Spurs has seen him tipped for future captaincy, with the 19-year-old Sweden midfielder wowing in North London since his arrival from Djurgarden in July 2024.

Barcelona were left “disappointed” when Bergvall signed for Tottenham over them, and it’s been easy to see why with the teenager impressing in the Premier League and helping Spurs reach the Europa League final last season.

Unfortunately for Bergvall, he missed the 1-0 win over Manchester United with an ankle injury, but fellow teenage sensation Gray did have a role to play in Bilbao as a late substitute.

Gray officially signed for Tottenham from Leeds the day after Bergvall did last year and he’s since shown the qualities of a future England international.

As a result, it’s no surprise to see the two youthful Spurs stars named on a glittering list of candidates for the 2025 Golden Boy award.

What is the Golden Boy award?

Italian newspaper Tuttosport started the Golden Boy awards in 2003.

All nominees must be men’s footballers under the age of 21, born on or after 1 January 2005, and play for a squad in one of UEFA’s top 25 leagues.

The Golden Girl award was started up in 2022, with WSL stars Michelle Agyemang, Iman Beney, Wieke Kaptein and Lily Yohannes all nominated for the 2025 award.

The winner of the award is voted for by 50 sports journalists from across Europe.

As of right now, there’s no confirmation of when the votes will be made and when the winner will be announced.

• Read more: Lucas Bergvall slammed after ‘unimaginable’ moment away from Tottenham

Who are Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall up against?

Tottenham‘s dynamic duo are up against some tough competition.

However, they won’t have to face up against Barcelona’s youth star Lamine Yamal because he’s been omitted from the 2025 awards.

He’s eligible in all ways except that as he’s the current holder of the award, Tuttosport states that no player can win it more than once.

2025 Golden Boy nominees and their current clubs:

• Pau Cubarsi – Barcelona
• Dean Huijsen – Real Madrid
• Arda Guler – Real Madrid
• Franco Mastantuono – Real Madrid
• Desire Doue – Paris St-Germain
• Warren Zaire-Emery – Paris St-Germain
• Senny Mayulu – Paris St-Germain
• Kenan Yildiz – Juventus
• Ethan Nwaneri – Arsenal
• Myles Lewis-Skelly – Arsenal
• Jorrel Hato – Chelsea
• Estevao – Chelsea
• Lucas Bergvall – Tottenham Hotspur
• Archie Gray – Tottenham Hotspur
• Geovany Quenda – Sporting
• Leny Yoro – Manchester United
• Nico O’Reilly – Manchester City
• Jobe Bellingham – Borussia Dortmund
• Francesco Pio Esposito – Inter
• Rodrigo Mora – Porto
• Giovanni Leoni – Liverpool
• Aleksandar Stankovic – Club Brugge
• Eliesse Ben Seghir – Bayer Leverkusen
• Victor Froholdt – Porto
• Mamadou Sarr – Strasbourg

Desire Doue seems like the stand-out favourite at this stage, especially after PSG’s Champions League victory and win over Tottenham in the European Super Cup.

Previous winners of the Golden Boy award

Gray will be bidding to become the fourth English winner of the Golden Boy award, while Bergvall will have sights on becoming the first Swede to win the vote.

Tottenham have never had a winner. However, ex-Spurs midfielder Rafael van der Vaart was the first ever winner in 2003 when he was at Ajax.

Tottenham have never had a winner of the award, so the two 19-year-olds will also be vying for that honour.

However, there’s no doubt that the two have some tough competition and will be very lucky to beat some of the aforementioned nominees.

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