SAINTS midfielder Romeo Lavia has been named as one of nine winners on the NXGN Nine list, for best young players in world football.

The 19 year old midfielder sits alongside elite teenage talent such as Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Barcelona’s Gavi.

The NXGN lists were created by GOAL in 2016 to celebrate the best young talent in world football and have since grown to become their own football brand.

The NXGN lists are compiled by a global network of youth football experts operating in 37 countries, with hundreds of specialists contributing to the men's and women's lists.

Past winners of the men’s list include Jude Bellingham, Ansu Fati, Jadon Sancho, Justin Kluivert, Rodrygo, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Youri Tielemans.

For this year’s NXGN lists, eligible players needed to be born on or after January 1, 2004, with players aged predominantly 18 and under.

Former Manchester City man Lavia is one of nine talents to be named a 2023 winner after a breakout season at Saints, making 19 Premier League appearances.

The list of 2023 NXGN Nine male winners (no order ranking):

  • Arda Güler - Fenerbahce
  • Mohamed-Ali Cho - Real Sociedad
  • Endrick - Palmeiras
  • Gavi - Barcelona
  • Alejandro Garnacho - Manchester United
  • Roméo Lavia - Southampton
  • Youssoufa Moukoko - Borussia Dortmund
  • Mathys Tel - Bayern Munich
  • Warren Zaïre-Emery - Paris Saint-Germain