The 5 New No.10s to Watch Out For 2025-26 Club Football

The 2025-26 season of club football is just setting off with a new generation of No.10s, ready to dominate in some of the biggest leagues of Europe. Clad in the legendary jersey number synonymous with originality, imagination and command, these five are not carrying the torch, but reforming the past. Teen prodigies to Galáctico arrivals, here are the five new No.10s to look out this season: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), and Matheus Cunha (Manchester United).

The New No.10s

Traditionally, the No.10 was the playmaker, the elegant link between midfield and attack. But in the tactical complexity of modern football, the role has evolved. Today’s No.10 is not only a creative force but also a goal scorer, a press initiator, and a spatial manipulator. The following players embody these hybrid qualities, ready to dominate their respective leagues this season.

Lamine Yamal: Barcelona’s Crown Jewel

• Age: 17
• Position: Right Winger / Attacking Midfielder
• New No.10 Debut: 2025-26 season
• 2024–25 Stats (All Competitions):

• 35 appearances
• 9 goals
• 16 assists
• Notable Achievement: Youngest-ever player to feature in a UEFA Champions League quarter-final

The transfer of the No.10 jersey, which is handed to Lamine Yamal at Barcelona, looks like a symbolic and a strategic step. Following Lionel Messi’s departure and Ansu Fati’s brief tenure, Yamal is the next representative of the number, which is the most sacred to Barca. However, this is not a matter of marketing, but it is based on merit. Yamal is already being compared to Messi and Ronaldinho due to his close control, left footed dribbling ability and ability to play a major role in small spaces. He is more of a wide playmaker and interior creator as demonstrated in the possession-heavy system that Flick uses.

Cole Palmer: Chelsea’s Unexpected Maestro

• Age: 23
• Position: Attacking Midfielder / Right Wing
• New No.10 Debut: 2025-26 season
• 2024–25 Stats (All Competitions):

• 52 appearances
• 18 goals
• 14 assists
• Notable Achievement: Scored 4 goals against Everton in April 2024

Cole Palmer is the most regular and imaginative attacker in Chelsea, filled with billion-pound talent. Having been signed by Manchester City in 2023, Palmer is a meteoric player with a fee of 42.5M. After Mykhailo Mudryk went on loan and Raheem Sterling was pushed into a rotation possibility, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca gave Palmer the No.10, which is a show of intent. Opta suggests that Palmer made 81 chances in the English Premier League last season, third most by a player. His languid style belies a razor-sharp footballing IQ. Palmer thrives between the lines, with his quick one-two and deceptive movement creating constant headaches for defenders.

Kylian Mbappé: Real Madrid’s Galactic Ten

• Age: 26
• Position: Forward / Second Striker / No.10
• New Club: Real Madrid (Transferred from PSG)
• New No.10 Debut: 2025-26 season
• 2024–25 Stats (All Competitions):

• 59 appearances
• 44 goals
• 5 assists
• Notable Achievement: Ligue 1 Top Scorer for 6th consecutive season

The football world held its breath as Kylian Mbappé finally joined Real Madrid in June 2025. To signal his intention, Los Blancos assigned him the No.10 jersey that featured stars as Luka Modri and Mesut Ozil. At Madrid, Mbappé will not be a pure winger anymore since his front three players are fluid. Rather, he is expected to be used as a second striker or a false No.9 behind Endrick or Vinícius Júnior, mixing charisma with killer finishes in the final third.

Jamal Musiala: Bayern’s Creative Compass

• Age: 22
• Position: Attacking Midfielder / Winger
• New No.10 Debut: 2025-26 season
• 2024–25 Stats (All Competitions):

• 25 appearances
• 12 goals
• 4 assists
• Notable Achievement: Bundesliga Player of the Month – March 2025

After the departure of Leroy Sané and Thomas Müller’s fading influence, Jamal Musiala enters the legendary No.10 position at Bayern Munich. Known as Bambi because of the smoothness of his movement, Musiala combines German precision with English flair. Under the new manager, Vincent Kompany, Musiala is likely to play the pivotal role in a youthful, reconstituted Bayern. The 4-2-3-1 formation suits him, giving him license to roam and get involved with the forwards Kane and Gnabry.

Matheus Cunha: United’s Wild Card No.10

• Age: 26
• Position: Attacking Midfielder / Forward
• New Club: Manchester United (Transferred from Wolves)
• New No.10 Debut: 2025-26 season
• 2024–25 Stats (All Competitons):

• 36 appearances
• 17 goals
• 6 assists
• Notable Achievement: Scored in 3 consecutive matches against Top 6 clubs in 2025

To the great surprise of the summer transfer window, Matheus Cunha signed with Manchester United as one of Ruben Amorim’s creative rebuild. Cunha also offers a touch of flair, aggression, and versatility in putting on the No.10 jersey, selected after Marcus Rashford was signed by Barcelona. Never a traditional playmaker, Cunha lives off transitional chaos. He has great skills of dropping deep, beating his marker, and initiating the attacks through his counterattack ability; this would make him perfect in a fast-paced Premier League environment.

Final Whistle: A New Era of No.10s

From Barcelona’s teenage hope to Madrid’s superstar arrival, the 2025–26 season offers a masterclass in modern No.10 play. These players are not just jersey-bearers; they’re system-changers and game-breakers. With a blend of youthful exuberance and elite experience, they represent the next wave of attacking excellence.

As the season unfolds, keep your eyes on these five. The future of football may just be stitched into their shirts.

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