Former Portsmouth season-ticket holder and Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount nominated for prestigious Golden Boy award
The former Purbrook Park pupil, who is currently on Chelsea’s books, has made the extended shortlist after impressing for Derby in the 2018-19 Championship.
Each year, Italian newspaper Tuttosport names the best European footballer under the age of 21 as their 'Golden Boy'.
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Hide AdPrevious winners include Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Wayne Rooney, Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe, with Ajax’s Matthijs de Ligt claiming the award last season.
Voters from the European press will be decide who will succeed the highly-rated Dutch international, with the result to be made in September.
Mount – a former Pompey junior and Fratton Park season-ticket holder – has yet to break into the first team at Stamford Bridge.
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Hide AdHowever his reputation has been growing following successful loan spells at Vitesse Arnhem in the Dutch Eredivisie and Derby over the past two seasons.
The 20-year-old’s spell at the GelreDome saw him score 14 goals from 28 appearances.
Meanwhile, Mount was part of the Rams side led by former Chelsea legend Frank Lampard that was beaten in the Championship play-off final against Aston Villa at Wembley.
His time at Pride Park saw him make 44 appearances and score 11 goals.
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Hide AdIt also saw him called up to Gareth Southgate’s senior England squad.
The midfielder has since returned to parent club Chelsea and is currently part of the England squad that is in Italy for the Under-21 European Championships.
The young Three Lions take on France in Group C on Tuesday, before facing Romania (Friday) and Croatia (Monday, June 24).
Mount is joined on the Golden Boy list by Joao Felix (Benfica), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan), Moise Kean (Juventus), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Chelsea team-mate Callum Hudson-Odoi and Nicolo Zaniolo (Roma).
Rooney and ?Raheem Sterling are the only two Englishman to have won the award.