Europa League: Williams, Henderson & Zubimendi are ones to watch

The Europa League returns this week with young stars and some well-known names seeking to make their mark.

Here are some of the key players to look out for this season.

Athletic Bilbao had to fight off interest from a host of clubs – including Barcelona and Arsenal – to keep the exciting winger.

Williams starred on the left for Spain’s triumphant Euro 2024-winning side this summer and struck the first blow in their 2-1 win against England in the final.

He also played his part in Athletic Bilbao’s Copa del Rey success last season, ending the club’s 40-year wait for silverware.

Can he inspire the Basque side to Europa League glory as well?

The Greece striker attracted interest from Ipswich – who are reported to have had a £20m bid rejected – and Champions League side Bologna in the summer.

PAOK refused to negotiate though, and kept Ioannidis after he scored 23 goals in 44 games last season, including five in six Europa League games.

He has only scored once so far this season, though.

After a loan spell in 2022-23 and an injury hit start to last season, Amad now appears to be a key component of Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United side.

The winger has tended to be preferred to Alejandro Garnacho so far on the right this campaign.

Often a threat cutting in on his left foot, he has one goal and one assist this season.

The former Liverpool captain faced criticism for swapping Anfield for Saudi Arabia in July 2023 and his stay at Al-Ettifaq was brief as he moved to Ajax six months later in January.

However, his nine league appearances for the Dutch side last season did not impress Gareth Southgate enough for Henderson to earn a return to the England Euro 2024 squad.

An experienced head in Ajax’s midfield, can he stake his claim on the European stage for a Three Lions call-up?

Zubimendi is another of Spain’s European Championship winners to have been a wanted man in the transfer window.

The midfielder – a second-half substitute for Rodri in the Euros final – could have been playing in the Champions League this season but eventually turned down a move to Liverpool.

Will Zubimendi’s decision to stay at his hometown club pay off with Europa League success?

The 18-year-old was snapped up by Tottenham for about £30m in the summer after an impressive season in the Championship with Leeds.

He was linked with a host of big Premier League sides throughout last season, but it was Spurs who got the deal done.

Gray is versatile and can play in midfield or right-back so he may be useful throughout the European campaign for Ange Postecoglou.

He has made three Premier League appearances off the bench and started their EFL Cup win over Coventry.

Ukraine striker Dovbyk was the driving force behind Girona’s rise in La Liga last season, scoring 24 goals to win the Golden Boot and help the club qualify for the Champions League for the first time.

But rather than playing in the top tier of European competition, he will be lining up for Roma in the Europa League.

Dovbyk has not enjoyed a prolific start to early life in the Italian capital, scoring once in his first four Serie A appearances. Will he re-find his form in European competition?

Back on happy hunting ground, Lyon’s Lacazette is joint-sixth in the Europa League’s all-time top scorer chart with 22 goals.

A few goals this season would see the French striker make up ground on the leader – his former Arsenal team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has 34.

Dzeko has embarked on his 24th season in professional football, leading the line for Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.

The 38-year-old striker has been on top form this season, scoring nine goals in 10 appearances for the Turkish side.

He already has 21 Europa League goals to his name. Can he add to his tally?

Former Italy forward Immobile is another player enjoying success in front of goal for a Turkish Super Lig side.

Since joining Besiktas from Lazio in July he has scored eight goals in eight matches, including two in the club’s 5-0 win over city rivals Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Cup.

After 31 goals last season, including five in the Europa League, the Brazilian forward will be one to watch for Azerbaijan side Qarabag.

He has started impressively this season, including six goals in Champions League qualifying.

Denmark midfielder Dolberg will pull the strings for Anderlecht as they return to Europe’s second competition for the first time since 2018–19.

He scored 15 goals in the Belgian league last season, and is off the mark this campaign too.