Four footballing wonder kids who never fulfilled their potential 

#2. Gerard Deulofeu

Manchester United v Watford FC - Premier League

When Everton signed Gerard Deulofeu on loan in the summer of 2013, he arrived on Merseyside as one of Spanish football's brightest prospects. He scored 18 goals for Barcelona B in the Segunda División the previous year. He was named the player of the tournament at the under-19 Euros.

He looked electric in the Premier League, completing over four dribbles per game and proving a constant nightmare for the defense. He helped the Toffees to a fifth-place finish in his first season.

He was eventually signed permanently in 2015, but following the arrival of Ronald Koeman as manager, Deulofeu was frozen out. By the summer of 2017, he had been re-signed by Barcelona, leading to hopes of a glorious return to Camp Nou. But it didn't happen. Deulofeu made just five La Liga starts before moving back to England with Watford. He put in some magical performances for the Hornets, notably firing them into the FA Cup final in 2019.

Now 27-year-old, the forward plies his trade for Udinese and has just four Spanish caps to his name.

#1. Jack Wilshere

Once English football's great new hope, Jack Wilshere broke through at Arsenal at a time when technical ability was looked upon as the prime indicator of top central midfielders. The likes of Xavi, Busquests and Iniesta defined that era.

Wilshere made a mark on the Barcelona trio, putting in a man-of-the-match display in the Gunners' Champions League tie with Barcelona in 2011. He completed all four of his dribbles and 93% of his passes against the legendary midfield.

But sadly, at just 19, that was about as good as it got for the precocious young talent. He missed the entire following season with an injury, and it became a running theme of his Arsenal career. A number of campaigns were either severely or entirely disrupted by various setbacks. Wilshere lost fitness and confidence and rarely looked like the player so many had pinned their hopes on.

After a loan spell at Bournemouth, he moved permanently to West Ham in 2018, a decision he has since revealed he regretted. He made just six Premier League starts for the Hammers. Following a short-term deal back at Bournemouth, he was released in the summer of 2021.

At the time of writing, he remains without a club.