Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has been included in the final FIFA Shortlist for the Golden Boy award. The 20-year-old French midfielder has been in sparkling form this season and has started in all Premier League matches for the Gunners this season.
The France under-21 international has made 57 appearances for Arsenal since moving to the Emirates from Lorient in July 2018 and recently picked up the Gunners’ player of the month award for September.
He, however, faces stiff competition from Barcelona youngster Ansu Fati and Manchester Citys Phil Foden. Cesc Fabregas is the only Arsenal player who has won the award since its inception in 2003. The Spanish midfielder won the accolade in 2006 when Arsene Wenger’s team made the Champions League final which they would eventually lose to Barcelona in Paris.
Guendouzi is one of three Premier League players to make the final shortlist alongside Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount and the aforementioned Phil Foden.
The winner will be announced on December 16 in Turin. Below is the full list of nominees…
20-MAN SHORTLIST
Matthijs De Ligt, Juventus
Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich
Gianluigi Donnurumma, AC Milan
Ansu Fati, Barcelona
Phil Foden, Man City
Matteo Guendouzi, Arsenal
Erling Braut Haaland, Red Bull Salzburg
Joao Felix, Atletico Madrid
Dejan Joveljic, Eintract Frankfurt
Moise Kean, Everton
Kangin Lee, Valencia
Adrij Lunin, Valladolid
Donyell Malen, PSV Eindhoven
Mason Mount, Chelsea
Rodrygo, Real Madrid
Jadon Sancho, Borussia Dortmund
Ferran Torres, Valencia
Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid
Nicolo Zaniolo, Rome