Liam Delap
English strikers have a rich history of dominating the beautiful game across Europe and the world. But to continue impacting football worldwide, you can’t just look into the past; you also have to think about the future. Currently, Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins are maintaining the legacy of English strikers, but the big question is: who will be the next Kane, Alan Shearer or Wayne Rooney?
English football dominates the world because it has the most competitive league, the Premier League. Thanks to this highly competitive league system, England produces plenty of world-class young players with the talent and ability to perform at the top level. Not all of them will reach the top, but they have the skill and talent to become notable English strikers.
Here, I’ve listed the best young English strikers who have the potential to lead in the center-forward role.
Liam Delap
Liam Delap has been playing for Ipswich Town F.C. as part of the starting 11 after moving from Manchester United. He is scoring beautiful goals in the Premier League for Ipswich Town in the current season. He has played in every England underage national team but has shown his true capability after leaving Manchester City and getting the chance to play at the top level.
He has all the skills and ability to be a complete striker.Delap has strong physicality, pace, and amazing ball control. With his lethal finishing ability, he can score in any tough situation. When you watch him play, you see great potential—someone who can do everything and become the biggest threat to opponents.
Dane Scarlett
The Spurs’ young star is currently playing at Oxford United on loan. When the time comes, they will bring him back and give him the chance to prove himself.
Scarlett is a striker with amazing goal-scoring ability. He isn’t just good at scoring; wherever he is on the pitch, he always helps the team with incredible speed, acceleration, and ruthlessness. Despite not being the tallest, he can score impressive goals with headers.
Will Lankshear
Will Lankshear is a 19-year-old Arsenal academy player who currently plays for Tottenham’s under-21 team. He have a tall and strong body that gives him great physicality, which helps him dominate in tough situations. His finishing ability in the box is lethal, making him a significant attacking threat for any opponent.
Lankshear’s movement on the ball is very difficult to predict, and his quick pace and agility help him win duels with defenders. He is a pure goal scorer, and if groomed properly, he could be a great No. 9.
Max Dean
The 20-year-old young English striker plays for Belgium’s first-tier league team, KAA Gent. At such a young age, he has already earned a spot in KAA Gent’s starting 11. Dean is an excellent goal scorer who can finish any chance he gets—even half-chances.
Dean is originally a right-footed striker but can strike with both feet. He has great potential to become an excellent No. 9 and can also play as a prolific goal-scoring winger.
Dom Ballard
Dom Ballard is a young English center-forward playing in the English third-tier league team Blackpool. Maybe he isn’t at the higher level like other strikers on this list, but he has very promising skills and talent that suggest he will reach greater heights one day.
Ballard has excellent intelligence in front of the opponent’s goal. He can score incredible goals with chip shots and powerful strikes from both feet.
Joe Gelhardt
Gelhardt is the most arrogant on the ball on this list. He is currently playing for the second-tier English league team, Leeds United. Anyone watching him play cannot deny that his skill and style are world-class.
With outstanding dribbling and ball control, he can glide past defenders like a sharp knife. Gelhardt’s quick change of direction and unpredictability make him unstoppable in front of any opponent defender. He is a strong left-footed player who can score from outside the box and from tight angles inside the box.
Ellis Simms
Ellis Simms was originally a product of Manchester City’s youth academy. At 16, he moved to Everton’s under-18 team. Since then, he has been playing for several second-tier clubs on loan. It’s not because he lacks skill—he’s just not ready yet for the top level. Simms is constantly improving as a striker.
Particularly, Simms’ ability to cut inside is very sharp, helping him create space to shoot. With his electrifying acceleration and speed, he could become an excellent center-forward in the future.
Sonny Perkins
Sonny Perkins was a West Ham under-age team striker who moved to the second-tier club of the English club, Leeds United. West Ham fans were unhappy to see such a talented young star leave. He is currently playing at Leyton Orient on loan.
Sonny Perkins is an excellent, prolific goal scorer who can play as a center-forward or on either wing. He’s not just a great finisher; his passes as a striker are precise as well.
Cameron Archer
Cameron Archer, an academy player for Aston Villa, plays for Southampton. During his time at Aston Villa, he played for several clubs on loan. However, his performance proved he was ready to compete at the top level, and Aston Villa brought him back. In the 2024-2025 season, Southampton signed him for €17.5 million.
Archer gained attention from fans and critics for his electric acceleration and speed on the ball. He is so confident and quick that defenders struggle to catch him. When you combine his incredible pace and finishing ability, you get an excellent young English striker who can seriously threaten any opponent.
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