NXGN 2025 : Yang Min-Hyeok
Yang Min-hyeok has been recognized for his incredible potential by being ranked in the top 50 of the world's top 10 prospects.
Soccer media outlet 'Goal.com' announced 'NXGN 2025', which selects the 50 most promising teenagers in the world this year. 'NXGN' is an abbreviation for 'NeXt GeneratioN' and is a list of 50 promising players that 'Goal.com' has been publishing since 2016.
This year's 'NXGN' also included South Korea's Yang Min-hyeok. After signing a semi-professional contract with Gangwon FC last year, Yang Min-hyeok immediately recorded an assist in the opening match of K League 1 and scored in the following match, emerging like a comet. He appeared in all K League 1 matches that season and recorded 12 goals and 6 assists, earning him the K League 1 Young Player of the Year Award and Best 11.
His shocking performance led to his advancement to Europe. Yang Min-hyeok, who signed a professional contract with Gangwon in June, confirmed his transfer to Tottenham Hotspur early in July. He had already attracted the attention of world-class clubs through the 2023 U17 Asian Cup and U17 World Cup, and as he continued his good performance in Gangwon, Tottenham signed Yang Min-hyeok. Tottenham had Son Heung-min, who became a club legend, so he had an easier time adapting to England. He is currently on loan to Queens Park Rangers (QPR) of the English Championship (2nd division) and is adapting to the English stage.
Local expectations for Yang Min-hyeok are also high. Football London, a soccer media outlet, said, “Yang Min-hyeok is another teenage player in the Angie Postecoglou era. He was confirmed to be signed from Gangwon last summer and joined in the winter after the K-League season ended. He was selected for the K-League 1 season’s best team, won the Young Player Award, and became the youngest player to score in K-League history.” “With Tottenham expected to go on an Asian tour this summer, talented teenage Yang Min-hyeok could be at the center of summer friendlies alongside captain Son Heung-min. He could make an impression with plenty of opportunities.” Goal.com also ranked Yang Min-hyeok 43rd in the ‘NXGN’, pointing out the connection between Tottenham and Korean players. The media said, “The connection between Tottenham and Korea can be seen just by considering Son Heung-min’s legendary status. Last July, Tottenham successfully recruited versatile striker Yang Min-hyuk. Locals hoped that Yang Min-hyuk would follow in Son Heung-min’s footsteps,” making it clear that Yang Min-hyuk is a player who Tottenham has high expectations for.
Yang Min-hyuk is the first Korean player to be named to the ‘NXGN’ in five years. Lee Seung-woo, who was then a member of Barcelona, was on the invitation list in 2016, and Lee Kang-in, who was then a member of Valencia, enjoyed the honor of being selected for two consecutive years in 2019 and 2020. Korea, which had not produced a player to the ‘NXGN’ for a while since Lee Kang-in, finally had the honor of having Yang Min-hyuk selected as one of the world’s most promising players after five years.
Yang Min-hyuk proved how much of a promising player he is in the spotlight worldwide by being the only Asian player to be selected to the ‘NXGN’. Tottenham Hotspur showed that their vision was not wrong by producing Yang Min-hyeok, Archie Gray (13th), Lucas Berival (17th), Mikey Moore (22nd), and Luka Buškovic (26th, joining in the summer of 2025).
Meanwhile, the player who was selected as the top player in this year's 'NXGN' was Barcelona ace Ramin Yamal, who is already classified as a Ballon d'Or contender beyond a promising prospect. Yamal has enjoyed the honor of taking first place for two consecutive years since last year, and is a 2007-born player who will even be included in 'NXGN' next year. Second place is Chelsea's pre-signed Brazilian winger Isteban Willian, and third place is Yamal's Barcelona teammate Pau Couvarci.