The top players from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have had a huge impact across the globe over the past quarter of century.
Asia has been the source of the mercurial talents of Hidetoshi Nakata and Shunsuke Nakamura as well as the industry of Park Ji-Sung and the goalscoring exploits of Son Heung-min.
More recently, Lee Kang-in has starred for Paris Saint Germain, while Kaoru Mitoma has become a key attacking weapon for Brighton.
A number of players from the AFC countries are seemingly ready to break out and become the next big stars from the continent. Here are 10 of Asia’s brightest prospects.
1) Yang Min-hyuk (South Korea and Tottenham Hotspur)
There has been a huge buzz around the 18-year-old winger in his home country and he is now hoping to help Tottenham Hotspur enjoy a successful 2025, following a disappointing 2024. Yang may well be helped by the presence of his countryman Son Heung-min as he aims to become the latest South Korean to shine in England, following in the footsteps of Son himself and the likes of Park Ji-sung, Ki Sung-yueng and Hwan Hee-chan.
Kim Byung-ji, the CEO of Yang’s former club Gangwon FC, told the BBC, “He is quick, can play on the left and the right, uses both feet and has similarities to Son but is more of a creator than goal scorer.”
Yang may not be ready to turn Spurs’ flagging fortunes around but, given time, all signs are that he could be an asset for the North London club in the near future.
2) Abdukodir Khusanov (Uzbekistan and Manchester City)
The Uzbek centre-back’s move from his home country to Belarus’ Energetik-BGU Minsk in 2022 may not have looked like the most obvious pathway to a Top Five European League. However, it took just over a year for him to earn a move to Lens in Ligue 1. In his first season at the French club, he gained Champions League experience and he has established himself as a regular starter in 2024-25.
Khusanov has impressed observers so much that he has moved to English champions Manchester City. This transfer means Khusanov becomes the highest profile Uzbek footballer, taking over from Eldor Shomurodov, who has been playing in Italy since 2020.
3) Zion Suzuki (Japan and Parma)
The 22-year-old goalkeeper has gone from backup at Urawa Reds in the J.League to number one choice for his country and for Parma in the space of under four years. His rapid ascent to stardom may soon reach new heights if we are to believe the rumours that Bayern Munich are considering signing him.
Suzuki apparently rejected a move to Manchester United in 2023 as he knew he would be second choice to Andre Onana. Instead, he went on loan to Belgian club Sint-Truiden, where he impressed enough for Parma to take him to Serie A.
Whatever happens next, it is apparent that Suzuki’s career is very much on an upward trajectory and he may reach the very top.
4) Bae Jun-ho (South Korea and Stoke City)
Bae remains in the English Championship for now, despite being the subject of many transfer rumours in the summer of 2024. It was expected that the midfielder would leave Stoke for Feyenoord or one of a number of Bundesliga or English Premier League sides linked with him, including Fulham.
He was named Stoke City’s Player of the Year in 2023-24 following his move from Daejeon Hana Citizen in his home country. His current club will not be keen to let him go during the January transfer window, as they sit too close to the Championship relegation zone for comfort. However, one of South Korea’s top prospects may be difficult to hold onto - if not now, then certainly at the end of the campaign.
5) Thomas Waddingham (Australia and Brisbane Roar)
The 19-year-old has followed up an impressive seven goals in his debut A-League season with a solid return of four goals in his first nine matches of the 2024-25 campaign.
As rumours of interest from several clubs began to grow in 2024, Brisbane Roar head coach Ruben Zadkovich felt compelled to discuss the matter, telling the media, “There’s been interest everywhere to be honest. There’s been interest within Australia, there’s been interest through Asia but there’s been some big interest through Europe which is great.
“We know that we’ve got an asset, we know that we’ve got a fantastic young player and you know we’ll keep working on developing him and bringing him to the top of the pile.”
It seems clear that it is just a matter of time before Waddingham moves from Australia but his destination is unclear. Spurs and Stoke City are two teams that have been linked with the striker.
6) Kota Takai (Japan and Kawasaki Frontale)
Kawasaki Frontale may not have had the best season in 2024, but the performances of 20-year-old centre-back Kota Takai were a silver lining. Frontale were champions four times between 2017 and 2021, but consecutive eight-placed finishes have left them looking for inspiration from some younger players.
Despite the underwhelming performances of the team as a whole, 6ft 3in Takai lifted the award for J.League Best Young Player. With previous winners including the likes of Shinji Ono, Takumi Minamino and Takuma Asano, the award is a strong indicator of a player’s potential. Still 19, Takai made his competitive debut for the national side in 2024, coming on as substitute in a 7-0 drubbing of China.
Takai has been linked with a move to Leicester City, so may join Yang in the English Premier League sooner rather than later.
7) Abbosbek Fayzullaev (Uzbekistan and CSKA Moscow)
Uzbekistan may be better known for its futsal team than its football team, but the national side is in a strong position to qualify for its first ever World Cup finals, thanks in no small part to the 21-year old striker. He struck the winning goal in the key victory over North Korea in November, putting the Uzbeks second in their qualifying group, a position that would see them go to the 2026 tournament.
Fayzullaev was named Asia’s Best Young Player of 2023 at the AFC Awards. His entry on the AFC website states, “Able to play anywhere across midfield, his dazzling abilities were in full view at the AFC Asian Cup, where he scored twice on the Continent’s biggest stage in their run to the last eight.”
Fayzullaev’s development may be hindered by his club’s current suspension from UEFA competition, but he could be a big hit elsewhere if he decides to move on.
8) Gaku Nawata (Japan and Gamba Osaka)
The striker starred at the 2023 AFC U-17 Championship as his country lifted the trophy. Nawata was the tournament MVP and his head coach highlighted the key role he played in the final victory over South Korea.
Hoshiro Moriyama said, “The turning point was the first and second goals scored by (Gaku) Nawata. His contribution was important because the Koreans have good attacking players and can score with just one chance.”
Nawata also won the AFC Youth Player of the Year award for 2023 and his burgeoning reputation led many to believe that his first professional contract may be at a European club. However, the 18-year-old has chosen to sign for Gamba Osaka, so he will start 2025 in the J.League, with the eyes of many scouts on him.
9) Arif Aiman Hanapi (Malaysia and Johor Darul Ta’zim)
The 22-year-old winger from perennial Malaysian champions JDT has been a full international since the age of 19 and his performances in the AFC Champions League have really made the continent sit up and take notice. In 12 games over the past two seasons, he has registered seven goals and three assists in the continent’s top club competition - all the more impressive as he plays for a Malaysian side and not one of Asia’s traditional powerhouses.
It remains to be seen if he would be willing to step out of his comfort zone and in July 2023, he told JDT fans, “I’m not good enough to play in Japan or South Korea”. However, the last 18 months have only boosted his profile and in November, the New Straits Times newspaper reported that Arif was being monitored by Rangers.
10) Jed Drew (Australia and Macarthur FC)
On New Year’s Day, the A-League’s official X account highlighted the sudden rise to prominence of the Australian winger.
“TEN goal contributions in nine games. Still only 21. Jed Drew has taken the Isuzu A-League by storm”.
Macarthur’s 3-2 victory over West Sydney Wanderers on January 1st featured two goals from Drew, outshining Juan Mata on the opposing side. Drew’s phenomenal improvement this season suggests he is a young man whose star is very much on the rise.
If he can maintain this type of form, he can expect to be a man in demand.
