Topps Merlin 2024-25 Rookie Tier List
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Finally making its way to the website we have the Merlin Rookie Tier List for the 2024-25 release! We're excited to finally have a home for the Rookie Tier List going forwards, and hope you get what you need from them!
For those new to the Rookie Tier List, we list out all the key info about the rookie class for that product. Their team, age, nationality, some key info about them and of course - what they have available in the product! So before you go chasing them in our release day breaks, make sure you know what each rookie has! We included our top 10 in the article below, but you can click here to view the list in its entirety!
S Tier
1. Geovany Quenda - RW - Sporting - 🇵🇹 - 18
Quenda has been one of the highest climbers in our 24-25 Rookie Tier Lists, and for good reason. After a succesful rookie campaign last year, Quenda has started the 25-26 season in great form, notching up 13 goal contributions including 4 in 5 Champions League matches. He passes the eye test, though sadly did just fracture his foot and will miss the next 2 months of the season. Hopefully a speedy recovery and a first National team call up ahead of the World Cup are inbound.
Merlin Hits - Match Ball Autos, Autos, Wizard Variation Autos, Merlin's Chosen One, Refractor Parallels
A Tier
2. Ethan Nwaneri - RW - Arsenal - 🏴 - 18
Nwaneri will remain in 2nd place in the rankings to close out the year, but he has dropped down a tier. He had an excellent season by all accounts in 2024-25, scoring 9 goals across 37 appearances in all competitions for one of the best teams in the world. However, this season has not been nearly as prolific for the Arsenal youngster as he has been limtied to only 266 minutes in major competitions this season. I doubt Arsenal would sanction a loan move but with Arsenal's recent signings covering from a depth perspective, it will be interesting to see how the remainder of Nwaneri's season plays out.
Merlin Hits - Dual Match Ball Auto (with Lewis-Skelly), Match Ball Autos, Autos, Wizard, Variation Autos, Renaissance & Renaissance Stained Glass, Rookie Variation, Refractor Parallels
3. Endrick - CF - Real Madrid - 🇧🇷 - 19
Some people would rank him far lower, and given what we have seen in the last 12 months - I wouldn't honestly blame them. I still believe in the natural talent, but the situation at Madrid behind one of the best players in the world in Kylian Mbappe, alongside the injuries and media attention has made success near impossible. As of now, Endrick looks set to join Lyon who have been getting the best out of young talent this season with the likes of Tyler Morton and Afonso Moreira impressing. We'll have a much clearer picture of Endrick by the end of the season, he faces an uphill battle to return to Ancelotti's squad ahead of the World Cup.
Merlin Hits - Dual Match Ball Auto (with Vini Jr.), Match Ball Autos, Autos, Wizard, Variation Autos, Renaissance & Renaissance Stained Glass, The Shiny, Merlins Gamers, Rookie Variation, Refractor Parallels
4. Assan Ouedraogo - CM - RB Leipzig - 🇩🇪 - 19
Now to our highest riser, Assan Ouderaogo has had a meteoric rise up the rankings this season, which shows just how far apart these rankings were made! Last season he struggled to feature with numerous injuries sharply reducing his playing time, but this season he has thrived. He's been a critical part of Leipzig's success in the Bundesliga (currently 2nd) and was rewarded with a call up and debut for the German national team, where he scored coming off the bench. Unfortunately he has just suffered a tendon injury that will keep him sidelined for the remainder of 2025, but he's working his way amongst the pack of incredibly talented German youngsters including Wirtz, Musiala, Karl & Woltemade.
Merlin Hits - The Shiny, Merlins Gamers, Refractor Parallels
B Tier
5. Charalampos Kostoulas - CF - Brighton - 🇬🇷 - 18
This is the 'my guy' of Merlin for me. Love everything about him. Passes the eye test, at a great club for his development that won't rush him. He isn't a generational Mbappe/Yamal/Haaland but I think he has the makings of a really good player.
Merlin Hits - Autos, Merlins Gamers, Merlin's Chosen One, Refractor Parallels
6. Myles Lewis-Skelly - LB - Arsenal - 🏴 - 19
Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri have shared similar issues - Arsenal vastly improving their 1st team squad has reduced the opportunities for youth players. His competition at left back is Calafiori who has barely put a foot wrong this year, and the midfield unit is arguably one of the best in the world. We did see him get his first England call up and score on his debut, so there are high hopes for him in the future.
Merlin Hits - Dual Match Ball Auto (with Nwaneri), Autos, Merlin's Chose One, Refractor Parallels
7. Marc Bernal - DM - FC Barcelona - 🇪🇸 - 18
Bernal suffered a pretty horrific injury late last year that kept him from continuing what had been an outstanding start to his senior footballing career. He's back now playing, albeit more as a rotational option as he gets back to full fitness. Barcelona just extended his contract to 2029 and have refused to loan him. It remains to be seen whether long term he can retain hobby value, but there are definitely collectors of his cards in today's market.
Merlin Hits - Autos, Merlins Gamers, Merlin's Chosen One, Refractor Parallels
C Tier
8. Toni Fernandez - AM/FW - FC Barcelona - 🇪🇸 - 17
SLI's rookie darling (we pulled his Chrome Super so some bias), Toni got his first chance with the 1st team last season in the Copa del Rey, and after another impressive summer was given his first La Liga debut against Girona this season. We've yet to see him feature since, part of this being due to him playing best as a 10 which Flick hasn't deployed in his system. He has plenty of talent and has been scoring goals for fun at Spain U18 level.
Merlin Hits - Match Ball Autos. Autos. Wizard Variation Autos, Merlin's Chosen One, Rookie Variation, Refractor Parallels
9. Chido Obi Martin - CF - Manchester United - 🇩🇰 - 18
Amorim seems to be speedrunning the disintegration of the youth setup at United, particularly following his comments on Mainoo & Chido Obi this week. There is a lot of talent here, but will he ever realize it at Manchester United? It is yet to be seen, given he has not appeared once for the first team this year even in the League Cup. Talent has earned his spot on the ranking but expectations have to be reduced given his lack of impact.
Merlin Hits - Match Ball Autos, Autos, Wizard Variation Autos, Renaissance & Renaissance Stained Glass, Merlins Gamers, Rookie Variation, Refractor Parallels
10. Andrija Maksimovic - AM - FK Crvena Zvezda - 🇷🇸 - 18
Highly touted youngster who transferred to Leipzig during the summer, Maksimovic is allegedly wanted by European's major clubs like PSG and Bayern. He has been used only as a subsitute for Leipzig thus far but will be one to watch in the 2nd half of the season for increased minutes, but the talent from his previous season at Red Star is evident. He does play for a nation that doesn't have the greatest international pedigree and won't be at the World Cup.
Merlin Hits - Match Ball Autos, Autos, Merlins Gamers, Rookie Variation, Refractor Parallels