Meet the new Dembele: 16-year-old Youri Tielemans who is already playing CL football

Youri Tielemans (L)

Youri Tielemans is a Belgian midfielder plying his trade at R.S.C. Anderlecht. Tielemans has played seven first team matches in Belgium’s Pro League this season while also playing in their two most recent Champions League matches against Paris-Saint Germain and Olympiakos. What’s more, Tielemans is just 16-years-old.

He has been at Anderlecht since the tender age of five and has worked his way up through the youth ranks rapidly and now features regularly for the first-team. He even has three Belgium Under-21 caps under his belt.

As sixteen-year-old that plays a little like his fellow countryman Mousa Dembele, Tielemans is a central midfielder with a lot of skill and flair. He loves to collect the ball from the defence, turn and charge forward at speed. His trickery and quick feet help him launch attacks quicker, transitioning the play.

He is brimming with confidence and has no qualms about attempting difficult, long-range passes to spread the play or launch a counter-attack.

In his performance against PSG in the Champions League, he completed 79% of his passes (54/68) and succeeded with his only take-on. His impressive performance also included two key passes, two interceptions, two clearances and one tackle.

Youri Tielemans Passes v PSG (79% Pass Accuracy)

He also had a shot from distance that didn’t miss the target by much. All this from a 16-year-old playing in his first European campaign against Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s PSG.

He was up against Thiago Motta and Marco Verratti who were superb on the night, completing more than 200 passes combined, so to put in the performance that he did was very impressive.

In his Champions League debut at home to Olympiakos, his side suffered another defeat but he played extremely well, completing 84% of his passes and even making one key pass; a drilled ball deep from the right-hand side into the penalty area.

Tielemans had two shots against the Greeks – both from a fair distance. One was saved, and one flew over the bar. Again, another example of his confidence but possibly a sign of his inexperience that he’s prepared to shot from such distances.

In both performances, he spent most of his time right in the centre of the pitch, attempting to dictate play and bring others into the game.

If he keeps up his performances, Tielemans won’t be playing in Belgium for much longer. One would assume a top European side will be chasing him frantically, waving an extravagant contract at him.

He has a big future.