The 20 Highest Rated U21s in Europe's Top 5 Leagues - Part I

Following the release of the Soccerex 20 Under 21 list, detailing the most valuable youngsters in the game at present, we've taken the chance to look at our own leaderboard using WhoScored ratings from the 2014/15 season.

Like the original index, we've gathered the top 20 players aged 20 or under at the start of the year, focusing only on those to have made at least 20 appearances in Europe's top 5 leagues in the previous campaign.

20. Marc Stendera (Frankfurt)

Versatile teenage midfielder Marc Stendera cemented a place in the Frankfurt side ahead of the Bundesliga's winter break and became a key player for Thomas Schaaf. No teammate registered more assists (5) or averaged more tackles per game (3) last season, despite the midfielder starting just 21 league matches.

19. Emre Can (Liverpool)

While the majority of Liverpool's transfer dealings last summer were deemed failures in their debut campaign, the same could certainly not be said of Emre Can. Playing at both right and centre-back last season, averaging the most tackles per game (2.9) of any Liverpool player to start at least 20 games, the German youth international will be hoping to move into midfield in 2015/16.

18. Marquinhos (PSG)

Conceding just 16 goals in the 21 games Marquinhos started last season compared to 20 in the 17 he didn't, we can expect the defender to improve on his appearance tally from last season. Seen as the natural successor to Thiago Silva, the young Brazilian completed 92.2% of his pass attempts in Ligue 1 - with only four players able to better that accuracy in all of Europe's top 5 leagues.

17. Corentin Tolisso (Lyon)

Having only started 7 league matches prior to the 2014/15 campaign, 20-year old Tolisso's development into a first team regular has been rapid at Lyon. The youngster was named in all but one of Hubert Fournier's starting XIs in the league, coming off the bench in the other game, and ended the season as OL's third top scorer, netting 7 times from a deep position in midfield.

16. Adrien Rabiot (PSG)

The fact that Rabiot makes the list despite just 10 of his 21 appearances coming from the start last season is indicative of the potential of the midfielder, who extended his stay at PSG this summer. In said starts the 20-year old scored 4 goals and registered an assist for a rating of 7.67 in Ligue 1 when excluding substitute appearances.

15. Emiliano Velazquez (Atletico - loan to Getafe)

After a hugely successful spell at Getafe last season Atletico have allowed their La Liga counterparts to extend the loan of Emiliano Velazquez for another year. One of three Uruguayan centre-backs on the books at Atleti, the 21-year old averaged more tackles per game (3.2) than any other centre-half aged 20 or under at the start of the year, doing so over 27 league appearances for Getafe.

14. Mateo Kovacic (Inter)

Seemingly staying at San Siro for at least another season, interest is thought to be high in the Croatian, and for good reason. Kovacic is an accomplished box-to-box midfielder despite having only recently turned 21, adding a goal threat to his game in 2014/15 to weigh in with 5 goals and 3 assists, as well as an impressive 2.6 dribbles per game.

13. John Stones (Everton)

Now firmly established as first choice centre-back alongside veteran Phil Jagielka, John Stones represents the future of Everton, though the Toffees could have a tough task keeping hold of the defender. Extremely composed in possession at such a young age, the 21-year old ranked among the top 10 players for pass accuracy in the Premier League last season (89.5%).

12. Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club)

Already a regular for Athletic going into the campaign, Aymeric Laporte did his burgeoning reputation no harm last season. The Frenchman averaged more interceptions per game (3.7) than any other player in La Liga and ended 2014/15 as his side's second highest rated player (7.19) behind top scorer Aduriz.

11. Hector Bellerin (Arsenal)

Following the signings of both Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers last summer few could have predicted the sort of campaign that Arsenal youngster Hector Bellerin would have last season. Injuries to the former saw the Spaniard vie for a place with Chambers for much of the campaign and he was certainly first choice by the end of it, averaging more successful dribbles per game (1.6) than any other Premier League defender.

Stay tuned for our rundown of 10 to 1 tomorrow at WhoScored.com