10 young players to watch as Ligue 1 McDonald's returns
Louis Leroux - Nantes
The latest player of the renowned conveyor belt of talent at Nantes, Louis Leroux made his breakthrough in the second half of last season as he slowly carved out his place in the starting XI. An intelligent midfielder, with a great reading of the game, and an eye for a pass, the 19-year-old Frenchman will now be looking to kick on under Luís Castro. With a swathe of departures in his sector of the pitch, he will certainly get his chance, and based on the limited minutes he earned last season, he is capable of taking it. 
matias fernandez-pardo - Lille
Lille have shown themselves capable of developing eye-catching wingers. Eden Hazard remains, of course, the most obvious example. Matías Fernández-Pardo is the latest to make the breakthrough. In Ligue 1 McDonald's last season, the Spaniard netted four times and registered three assists. LOSC provide a pathway for their young players to shine, and Fernandez-Pardo is a player they will certainly look to platform.
Djaoui Cissé - Rennes
At the age of 21, Djaoui Cissé has carved out a place for himself at his formative club. His rise to prominence coincided with the arrival of Habib Beye at Rennes. His controlled performances in midfield in the second half of last season helped Les Rennais steer away from relegation trouble. They also earned him a place in the France U21 squad for the U21 Euros over the summer, where he managed to enhance his reputation further. 
Senny Mayulu - PSG
Scoring a goal for your formative club in the final of the Champions League in your breakout season? It surely can't get much better than that, but PSG's Senny Mayulu will be looking to progress further this season. His versatility is hugely appreciated by Luis Enrique and, able to play in so many positions so aptly, he is a big asset. His game intelligence is already one of his best attributes and that will only develop further as he accrues more game time, as is expected over the course of the upcoming Ligue 1 McDonald's season.
🎥 First session for Kendry Paez! 🎥pic.twitter.com/swUUrzliMs
— Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace English (@RCSA_English) August 5, 2025
Kendry Páez - Strasbourg
The young Ecuadorian, Kendry Páez, arrives in Europe with high expectations. His performances in his native country have earned him rave comparisons to former PSG player Lionel Messi and Neymar from former Ecuador international Carlos Tenorio. The dazzling winger will look to live up to those comparisons on loan at Strasbourg from parent club Chelsea, as he looks to announce himself to a European audience. 
Jérémy Jacquet - Rennes
Rennes were so desperate to get Jérémy Jacquet back midway through last season that they paid Clermont Foot a fee to do so. He justified that desperation by turning in a string of faultless displays for his formative club, establishing himself as one of the best defensive prospects in Europe.
Jaydee Canvot - Toulouse
Jaydee Canvot's performances have already caught the attention of some big clubs around Europe, and it is very easy to see why. The French centre-back displayed excellent anticipation and reading of the game for Toulouse last season, in one of the strongest defensive sides in Ligue 1 McDonald's. Calm on the ball, too, he has all the attributes to become a top-level centre-back.
Mathis Amougou - Strasbourg
After a brief spell away, Mathis Amougou is back in Ligue 1 McDonald's with Strasbourg. The former Saint-Étienne midfielder, who joins from Chelsea, has big shoes to fill. He is the replacement for Andrey Santos, who has returned to Chelsea, after making a big impression in the East of France.
Ansu Fati, notre nouveau numéro 𝟑𝟏, présenté à la presse 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/vTxYqMemwt
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) July 3, 2025
Ansu Fati - Barcelona
It has been a few years since Ansu Fati burst onto the scene at Barcelona, and so it is easy to forget that he is still a young player. At 22, he is looking to get his injury-stinted career back on track at Monaco. Given Monaco's track record with youngsters, he arguably couldn't be in a better place.
Badredine Bouanani - Nice
An eye-catching winger, who thrives off eliminating his opponents, Badredine Bouanani, after a strong campaign last time around, is looking to take his career to the next level at Nice. The Algerian will be looking to add more goals and assists to his game in the upcoming Ligue 1 McDonald's season.
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