The most valuable under-21 footballers in the world revealed

The most expensive under-21 players in the world have been revealed, with the Premier League boasting nine of them.

The CIES Football Observatory – a research group within the International Centre for Sports Studies in Switzerland – has worked out the youngsters that are already worth enormous amounts.

Barcelona and Spain superstar Lamine Yamal came out on top, and by some margin, after boosting his enormous reputation at Euro 2024.

Still just 17 years old, the Barca forward has been valued at £150m, but it would be surprising if his club even accepted an offer of that size if it came in.

The teenager has continued to impress since Spain won Euro 2024, scoring five goals in 12 La Liga outings so far this season.

He does not turn 18 until July next year and has already racked up 17 caps for Spain and played 67 times for Barcelona in all competitions.

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

The Red Devils boast three players in the top 20, with Garnacho joined by England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo and their summer signing Leny Yoro, who is yet to make his debut for the club after pre-season injury.

Manchester City are represented on the list by Savio and Rico Lewis, while there are some smaller Premier League clubs with some bright young sparks.

Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran is joined by a trio of Brighton players, which is a huge compliment to the Seagulls’ scouting system.

Evan Ferguson and Carlos Baleba are on the list, as is Facundo Buonanotte, who is on loan at Leicester City this season and has already impressed for the Foxes.

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 another Brighton star, Yankuba Minteh, just outside the top 20 in 21st place.

Also making the top 100 in the Premier League are the likes of Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, Newcastle’s Lewis Hall and Tottenham’s Archie Gray.

The full list is available here.

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