Moise Kean remains in contention to claim this year’s Golden Boy award after an original 40-strong long list was sliced in half.

Striker Kean signed a five-year Everton deal when he joined from Juventus this summer and has started twice in the Premier League.

The 19-year-old, who scored six goals in 13 Serie A games last season and has been capped three times by Italy, will rival fellow Premier League stars Phil Foden, Mason Mount and Matteo Guendouzi for the honour which recognises Europe’s top talent under the age of 21.

Holland defender Matthijs de Ligt, who switched to Juventus from Ajax in the close season, features on the 20-man shortlist and could become the first man to scoop the award in successive years.

The Golden Boy 2019 winner will be announced in Turin on 16 December and follow in the footsteps of an elite band of former recipients, with Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Kylian Mbappe among those who have landed the prestigious prize.