Rayan Cherki

Rayan Cherki was Lyon's great prodigy, debuting for the club at 16 and spending his entire development there before making the move to Manchester City in 2025. Technically exceptional — two-footed, creative, and capable of moments of genuine brilliance in tight spaces — he has always had the ability; the question has been consistency and physicality at the highest level. His move to City under Pep Guardiola is the defining test of whether his talent translates to elite European football. For France, he is a wildcard option whose creativity offers something different from the more direct wide forwards around him.