Five years on: Hinshelwood rises at Brighton as wonderkid Moukoko's star dims in Turkish football
A tale of two paths from the 2021 Next Generation class
In 2021, the Guardian's Next Generation series profiled 80 of the world's most promising teenagers — 20 from the Premier League and 60 from elsewhere — with the pledge to track their progress for five years. Few could have predicted just how differently two of that year's standouts would fare.
When Brighton's Jack Hinshelwood was profiled, the tone was deliberately understated. “The ball-playing central midfielder comes from a footballing family and academy staff believe his tactical awareness is born from growing up around the game,” the entry read, noting his father Adam played for Brighton and now manages Worthing FC, while relatives Martin, Paul and Wally all enjoyed playing careers.
Contrast that with the fireworks surrounding Youssoufa Moukoko. The Dortmund prodigy was, in the Guardian's words, “the youngest to play in the Bundesliga at 16 years and one day, youngest player to appear in the Champions League 17 days later, youngest goal scorer in Bundesliga 11 days after that and youngest player and youngest goal scorer for the Germany Under-21 team before he has turned 17.” He went on to play for Germany at the World Cup, his style described as “completely carefree… young Michael Owen-esque.”
When life interfered
Moukoko's trajectory, however, was derailed. Injuries mounted and a starting berth proved elusive — not least because Erling Haaland arrived at Dortmund in 2020. A bright start to 2022-23 after Haaland's move to Manchester City was cut short by an ankle ligament tear, and Moukoko never reclaimed his place. He now turns out for newly promoted Turkish side Corum, on loan from Copenhagen, whom he joined in 2025. The switch was low-key; the club welcomed him to the “family” with a short statement. He is yet to start a game but has shown flashes of quality, marking his home debut with a sharp assist in a 3–0 win over Eyüpspor. His market value, per transfermarkt.com, is €5m (£4m).
Hinshelwood's steady ascent
Hinshelwood, by contrast, has made 67 Premier League appearances and was named on Thomas Tuchel's 55-man longlist for the 2026 World Cup. A frustrating ankle injury has hampered him early this campaign, but his stock is rising and his market value sits at €28m (£24m) — and Brighton have no intention of selling.
“It is definitely not just a straight line,” his father Adam told Sky this year. “There were lots of bumps and ups and downs along the way.” One pivotal moment came when, as an under-15, Jack was challenged to play up an age group. “It was a big catalyst for Jack,” Adam said. “He rolled up his sleeves and became a proper footballer.”
Neither player chose their path. “They simply developed at a different pace,” the Guardian notes. Hinshelwood was not ready for top-flight football at 17; Moukoko was. Whether the early exposure ultimately cost Moukoko is, the paper concedes, impossible to say. What is certain is that, five years on, slow and steady has proven a surprisingly effective strategy.