There was an interesting appearance in Australia’s under-17’s camp recently, with 15-year-old William Ferdinand Cvek getting a taste of the Joeys set-up.
The much sought after Melbourne-born central midfielder, who is eligible for England and Croatia, has become one of his age group’s most coveted youth footballers.
The Celta Vigo youth player has previously been called up by both nations, while he is also eligible for the Philippines and Spain, where he currently lives, and made headlines coming through Barcelona’s ranks at La Masia, where he played until this season.
The precocious talent wrote on Instagram: “Grateful for the experience with Australia U17’s.”
Before joining Barcelona’s academy, where he has spent the last five years, Ferdinand also spent two years with Real Madrid and a year with Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven.
The 15-year-old joins a number of talented teens eligible for Australia who have made headlines already this season. Sydney-born sensation Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli became Chelsea’s youngest ever player earlier this season, while England-born Australian youth international Charlie Wilson-Papps continues to make waves at Brighton. Both were named in The Guardian’s best young talent at each club this week, while [Roma’s Antonio Arena, eligible for Italy and Australia, joined Sydney FC’s Akol Akon on the newspapers coveted list of best youngsters in world football this week.](https://football360.com.au/akol-akon-antonio-arena-guardian-next-generation-2026/)
Ferdinand Cvek [first went viral when he was just seven years old, featuring in a YouTube video with Spanish social media star Delantero09.](https://football360.com.au/who-is-william-ferdinand-cvek-england-call-up-croatia-australia-spain-barcelona-highlights-watch/)
The video, titled ‘7-YEAR-OLD BOY CHALLENGES ME 1-ON-1 PLAYING SOCCER ft William Cvek’ has received over 15 million views and over 4,000 comments, at time of writing, since being posted six years ago.
Carl Veart’s Joeys squad had assembled during September and October, with a 2009-born cohort playing in the Under-17s Copa Espana, where they lost 1-0 to Panama but drew 0-0 with Morocco, while a 2010-born age group played the Under-16 CFA invitational in China and beat Vietnam and China, and drew with Kyrgyzstan.
It is the group’s final action before November’s Under-17 World Cup, where they are grouped with Argentina, Denmark and Mozambique in Qatar.
Current club / Junior Club
Lachlan Allen: Western Sydney Wanderers FC / Ramsgate RSL
Hugo Ng: Adelaide United FC / Metrostars / FSA
Charlie Wilson-Papps: Brighton & Hove Albion FC / Sheen Lions FC / ENG
Harrison Bond: FC Red Bull Salzburg / All Saints Hunter Hills FC / FNSW
Fraser Brown: Melbourne City FC / Croydon City SC / FV
Ethan Fletcher: Sydney FC / Hills United FC / FNSW
Emile Katrib: Western Sydney Wanderers FC / Panania Diggers SC / FNSW
William Kengni: Melbourne Victory FC / Whittlesea Ranges FC / FV
Besian Kutleshi: Melbourne City FC / North Sunshine Eagles SC / FV
Max Lyall-Rajendra: AFC Bournemouth / London Colney Colts FC / ENG
Callum McCaskey: Central Coast Mariners FC / Central Coast Mariners FC / FNSW
Marcus Savic: Western Sydney Wanderers FC / Moorebank Sports SC / FNSW
Jariyah Shah: Manchester United FC / Doncaster Rovers FC / ENG
Max Court: Brisbane Roar FC / APIA Leichhardt FC / FNSW
Sajjad Nasiri: Adelaide United FC / Ingle Farm SC / FSA
Dionn Nigro: Sydney FC / Enfield Rovers FC / FNSW
Henrique Oliveira: Macarthur Bulls FC / Adelaide Port Pirates / FSA
Aston Reid: Central Coast Mariners FC / Lilli Pilli FC / FNSW
Sebastian Siegler: Colorado Rapids / Bankstown United FC / FNSW
Luke Becvinovski: Central Coast Mariners FC / Pascoe Vale FC / FV
Akeem Gerald: Melbourne City FC / FC Bulleen Lions / FV
Georgio Hassarati: Western Sydney Wanderers FC / Putney Rangers FC / FNSW
Malik Olukhale: Melbourne Victory FC / Brunswick Zebras SC / FV
Maxim Atkinson: Melbourne Victory FC / Hobart City FC / FT
Laris Cesko: Adelaide United FC / Campbelltown City SC / FSA
Clayton Jones: Brisbane Roar FC / St Catherines United FC / FQ
Dhaniel Brown: Perth Glory FC / Perth RedStar FC / FW
Eddie Dunne: Brisbane Roar FC / Westside Grovely FC / FQ
Ned Howell: Manly United FC / Northbridge FC / FNSW
Charley Kassis: Macarthur Bulls FC / Kenthurst & District FC / FNSW
Denver Minster: Adelaide United FC / Sebastopol Vikings FC / FV
Jake Pilovski: Melbourne City FC / Altona North SC / FV
Eden Smoli: Sydney FC / Maccabi Hakoah JFC / FNSW
Kaiden Walshe: Newcastle Jets FC / Newcastle Olympic FC / NNSWF
Kalan Alagich: Adelaide United FC / Adelaide Croatia Raiders SC / FSA
Kallum Chalker: Brisbane Roar FC / Centenary Stormers FC / FQ
Luka Demuth: Melbourne City FC / Aspendale Stingrays SC / FV
Tyler Hogan: Sydney FC / Northbridge FC / FNSW
Kai Satilmis: Melbourne City FC / Coonans Hill SC / FV
Dimitri Staveris: Sydney FC / APIA Leichhardt FC / FNSW
Maalek Bakkar: Melbourne City FC / Williamstown SC / FV
Zachary Harrison: Sydney FC / Noosa Lions FC / FQ
Noah Hoopers: Central Coast Mariners FC / Oran Park Rovers SC / FNSW
Jack Middleby: Sydney FC / Valentine FC / NNSWF
Riad Rarhidi: Adelaide United FC / Adelaide City FC / FSA
Jake Tadrosse: Sydney FC / Blacktown City FC / FNSW