Arne Engels nominated for 2023 Golden Boy award
Among the best U21 players in Europe
First Team
21.06.2023, 11:05
Arne Engels has been included in the 100-man longlist for this year's Golden Boy award, which has been handed out annually by Italian sports magazine Tuttosport since 2003 to the best U21 player in Europe.
For the first time, the award will be combined with an index in which on-the-pitch performance, minutes played and club coefficient are all taken into account. Engels is ranked in 75th in the longlist (Golden Boy rating: 64.6), with Bayern's Jamal Musiala top of the rankings, ahead of Jude Bellingham and last year's winner, Gavi.
The final voting for the 2023 Golden Boy will take place in autumn. A panel of 50 international sports journalists will select the winner from a shortlist of the top 20 nominees and five wildcard players.
Four assists in 18 games
Engels joined FC Augsburg during the winter break from FC Brügge and was able to earn himself a place in the starting line-up. The 18-year-old missed just one game after his arrival: a 3-2 defeat in Bochum due to a yellow-card suspension. He provided four assists in 18 matches last season.
Engels' strong performances were also rewarded with a call-up to the Belgium U21s, who will be competing at the U21 EUROs this summer. The team will open their tournament campaign on Wednesday evening (18:00 CEST) against the Netherlands U21s.
