Last 7 Scottish Premiership Young Players of the Year: Where Are They Now?

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Here are the last 7 PFA Scotland Young Players of the Year: Where are they now? Unsurprisingly, there are Celtic players here.

7. Kieran Tierney – Celtic

As much as Celtic’s domination of Scottish football over the last few years has become a little monotonous, so too has Kieran Tierney’s dominance of the Young Player of the Year award. The best player in the division as far as we’re concerned, Tierney is still only 21, but hopefully he is considered to be too old to win the accolade this season. We say that because the Scottish international has won it in each of the last three seasons – becoming the first three-time winner in the awards history. Linked with the likes of Everton and Manchester United, it would take a big bid to persuade Celtic to part with their young full-back, and the player himself hasn’t yet given any suggestions that he’d want a move away from Parkhead.

6. Jason Denayer – Manchester City

Manchester City’s Jason Denayer looks on during training at Manchester City Football Academy on August 8, 2018 in Manchester, England.

Still contracted to Manchester City, for now at least, Jason Denayer is reportedly keen on a permanent move to Galatasaray, where he has twice gone on-loan. Denayer looked to be a sensation during his season on-loan at Celtic Park, which was some four seasons ago now. Powerful, assured and comfortable on the ball, he was even playing games in a very strong Belgium team at the age of 19. Things haven’t quite progressed as Denayer and City would have hoped, although he is still only 23, and the club are likely to receive a decent fee for him. In his solitary season in Scotland, Denayer was Scottish football’s fourth non-Scottish Young Player of the Year, Celtic’s Young Player of the Year and he made the divisions Team of the Season.

5. Andy Robertson – Liverpool

It’s something of a curse for Scottish football that arguably their two best players, both of whom are young and could easily still improve, are both left-backs. One is Kieran Tierney, and the other is Andy Robertson. Robbo, as his teammates often call him, has had a really rapid ascent through the footballing ranks. From part-time football with Queen’s Park in 2013 to Scottish Premiership football with Dundee United a year later, then came a move to Premier League side Hull City, a first cap for Scotland and, more recently, a transfer to Liverpool and a Champions League final appearance.

The 24-year-old Scot wasn’t a regular fixture under Jurgen Klopp at the start of last season, but he was really impressive once he broke into the team.

4. Leigh Griffiths – Celtic

Leigh Griffiths of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Scott Brown testimonial match between Celtic and Republic of Ireland XI at Celtic Park on May 20, 2018 in…

Leigh Griffiths doesn’t seem young enough to take fourth spot in this seven, but that is just a result of Kieran Tierney’s trio of successes. Griffiths won the Best Young Player award back in the 2012-13 season, when he was smashing them in on-loan at Hibernian. Celtic subsequently signed him from his parent club Wolves, and the rest – as they say – is history. Griffiths has scored 98 goals in 177 games for the Hoops, being named as Scotland Players’ Player of the Year for the 2015-16 season.

3. James Forrest – Celtic

Okay, I’m going to go quick so that non-Celtic fans don’t start to turn off here. In third place is James Forrest, who is a one-club man to date. A quick and direct right winger who is a constant threat to the opposition, Forrest had his best season yet last term, bagging 17 goals in 57 games. Despite his effectiveness at Parkhead, Forrest is yet to score in 20 caps for the national team.

2. David Goodwillie – Clyde

David Goodwillie of Aberdeen FC controls the ball during the UEFA Europa League third round qualifying first leg match between Real Sociedad and Aberdeen FC at Estadio Anoeta on July 31,…

Back in 2011, David Goodwillie must have felt like the world was at his feet. The young Stirling native had been named both the PFA and FWA Young Player of the Year, followed by a £3 million move to the Premier League and a goal for Scotland against reigning world champions Spain. Seven years on, and now in what ought to be his prime years, Goodwillie is plying his trade in the fourth tier of Scottish football, reportedly picking up just £300 a week.

Goodwillie did flop south of the border, but his ability alone isn’t the primary reason for his cataclysmic decline. He scored 25 goals in 37 games for Clyde last season.

1. Danny Wilson – Colorado Rapids

The fourth defender in this seven, Danny Wilson was only 18 when he was named Scottish Young Player of the Year in 2010. He made 24 appearances in his breakout season at Rangers, prompting Liverpool into a £2 million deal with the potential to rise to £5 million for the teenager. The Merseysiders proceeded to loan him out for each of his three seasons at Anfield, before Hearts signed him on a permanent in 2013. He returned to Ibrox in 2015, where Wilson played three seasons before heading stateside in January of this year. The 26-year-old has since made 15 MLS appearances for Colorado Rapids.