The list of 100 candidates for the Golden Boy Award has been published. In addition to three Dortmund players, a talent from VfL Bochum is also on the list.
Every year, the Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport chooses the best U21 footballer in Europe: the “Golden Boy”. The winner of the prestigious award will be chosen next autumn.
It is already clear which talents have hope. The preliminary list of 100 candidates was published on Tuesday. It will be gradually shortened before journalists choose the winner from 20 remaining candidates.
Among them are three professionals from Borussia Dortmund: Jude Bellingham, who at least on paper is still under contract with BVB and is moving to Real Madrid, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Youssoufa Moukoko. The former probably has a realistic chance of winning thanks to strong performances for BVB. In the past two years, Bellingham finished in second place, in the last edition he had to give way to Gavi of FC Barcelona.
In the Golden Boy Index – an algorithm is used to assess the nominees’ chances of winning the competition – Bellingham is ranked second. Only Jamal Musiala of FC Bayern is ranked higher. Winger Bynoe-Gittens is in 39th place, Moukoko is ranked 65th.
Bochum talent Oermann is also on the provisional list
Only nine places behind him is a talent from VfL Bochum. Tim Oermann has also made it onto the provisional list. The 19-year-old central defender has completed his first season as a professional – and has been quite convincing.
He made his Bundesliga debut for VfL last September. Three more appearances followed before Oermann was loaned to Wolfsberger AC in the winter. At the Austrian first division club, the defender promptly advanced to become a regular player (14 of 16 possible games over 90 minutes), and Oermann was also called up to the German U20 national team in the spring.
As Oermann explained in an interview with RS a few days ago, he is now returning to his home club with the same confidence. Now the native of Bochum and the VfL can be happy about another small recognition for Oermann’s development with his nomination for the Golden Boy Award.