Revealed: The most valuable under-21 players, including a £95m star from Man Utd

The CIES Football Observatory, a research group based in Switzerland at the International Centre for Sports Studies, has identified young football players who have already achieved significant market value.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Barcelona and Spain superstar Lamine Yamal came out on top – and by some margin – following his remarkable heroics at Euro 2024.

The forward does not turn 18 until July next year but has been valued at £150million after beating England in the final of the Euros, where he was also named Young Player of the Tournament.

The teenager has continued to impress this season, scoring five and assisting seven goals in 12 La Liga appearances so far, and is now aiming to win the Nations League with his country,

Yamal’s closest rival on the list of pricey youngsters is Man Utd and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho, who has been valued at £95m.

The 20-year-old has arguably been United’s best player in a turbulent campaign, notably registering more goal contributions (11) than the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kylian Mbappe, Phil Foden and Michael Olise.

Joining Garnacho in the top 20 are fellow Red Devils Kobbie Mainoo and Leny Yoro, the latter still yet to make his debut for the club after suffering a pre-season injury.

It is thought the centre-back is close to a return, as is Mainoo after the England midfielder picked up a thigh injury a month ago.

Manchester City are represented on the list by Savio and Rico Lewis, the full-back now a regular member of the Three Lions squad.

The Premier League are also represented through Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran and Brighton trio Evan Ferguson, Carlos Baleba and Facundo Buonanotte, the latter impressing on loan at Leicester City.

Jamie Bynoe-Gittens is the third Englishman on the list and the only one yet to play for his country but he surely won’t have long to wait following his stellar performances for Borussia Dortmund.

Top 20 Most Valuable U-21 Footballers

£150m – Lamine Yamal (17) Barcelona
£95m – Alejandro Garnacho (20) Manchester United
£90m – Warren Zaire-Emery (18) PSG
£84m – Savio Moreira (20) Manchester City
£83m – Joao Neves (20) PSG
£81m – Endrick (18) Real Madrid
£72m – Rico Lewis (19) Man City

£63m – Arda Guler (19) Real Madrid
£62m – Kobbie Mainoo (19) Manchester United
£60m – Kenan Yildiz (19) Juventus
£58m – Lucas Beraldo (20) PSG
£58m – John Duran (20) Aston Villa
£54m – Giorgio Scalvani (20) Atalanta
£51m – Evan Ferguson (20) Brighton
£48m – Mathys Tel (19) Bayern Munich
£48m – Facundo Buonanotte (19) Leicester City (on loan from Brighton)

£48m – Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (20) Borussia Dortmund
£45m – Leny Yoro (18) Manchester United
£45m – Aleksandar Pavlovic (20) Bayern Munich
£43m – Carlos Baleba (20) Brighton

The CIES Football Observatory has actually gone as far as naming the 100 most valuable youngsters, with Lewis Hall included after the Newcastle defender made his England debut against Greece in their recent Nations League win.

Other Premier League stars in the top 100 include Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Tottenham’s Archie Gray and Chelsea’s Romeo Lavia.

The full list is available here.

This article was first published on November 10, 2024

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