Top 10 most expensive U-21 footballers

In modern football, clubs catch players young. Most teams now have a squad laden with very young and ambitious players. Young players are now making waves in the teams they play for because of the trust their teams are placing in them. Their efforts, coupled with their technical and football skills, have made them very valuable. 

From England to Spain to Germany, based on their market values, we shall examine the top 10 most valuable under-21 players in this article.

10. Victor Roque (19-year-old)

According to reports, former Athletico Paranaense forward, Vitor Roque, signed for FC Barcelona but did not join until January. However, he failed to live up to expectations when he was handed chances under former Barcelona Xavi Hernandez. Still, the Brazilian was a figure that drew interest from several clubs before he ended up in Barcelona and is valued at around £35 million.

9. Leny Yoro (18-year-old) Manchester United

After a decent preseason display, Manchester United will not be without the services of their new signing. The defender is dubbed one of the best defenders in Europe and was targeted by top clubs such as PSG, Liverpool, and Real Madrid. In 2023, Yoro was the second player to win most duels across Europe’s top leagues. Leny Yoro is also the winner of Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year, after an impressive campaign with Lille Metropolle. Yoro is currently valued at £35.5 million.

8. Alejandro Garnacho (20-year-old) Manchester United

Alejandro Garnacho broke into Manchester United’s first team when he made his debut when Manchester United played Sheriff Tiraspol in a 3-0 win in the Europa League in 2022. That year, in November, he scored his first Premier League goal, a late winner against Fulham. The following season, when he was handed the number 17 shirt, Garnacho scored a famous bicycle kick against Everton, which would go on to win the Premier League Goal of the Month of November and the 23/24 Goal of the Season. 

The young Argentine superstar is valued at £39.3 million.

7. Alejandro Balde (20-year-old) Barcelona

While Jordi Alba was ageing, Barcelona tried several left-backs to create a competition until Balde was able to make a statement for himself. After a disappointing outing versus Rayo Vallecano in the 22/23 season, Balde would take over from Jordi Alba and play the rest of the season as a starter, helping Barcelona win the Spanish La Liga title. He could have continued his impressive form, but he suffered an injury last season when Barcelona played Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey, an issue that kept him sidelined for the rest of the campaign. 

The Spaniard is valued at about 39.4million.

6. Savinho (20-year-old) Manchester City

Currently valued at £39.6 million, Savinho is a superb winger who can play on both flanks and terrorise wing-backs. Having completed a move back to Manchester City, where he was sent on loan to Girona last season, Savinho is touted as one of the world’s most talented wingers. He helped Girona clinch a Champions League spot last season when they almost humiliated Barcelona and Real Madrid to win the La Liga title.

5. Gavi(ra) Pablo (20-year-old) Barcelona

Gavi was one of those youngsters who gave Barcelona fans some hope after the 2020 season when Bayern Munich humiliated Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. Energetic, strong, and resilient, Gavi broke into Barcelona in the 2021 season and carried into the following season, when he eventually won the Golden Boy Award and Kopa Trophy. At just 20, Gavi made 27 appearances for Spain before an unfortunate ACL injury kept him away from the rest of the season, missing the Euros and Olympic Games for Spain.

The midfielder is currently valued at £52 million.

4. Giorgio Scalvini (20-year-old) Atalanta

Scalvini is a young defender who joined the Atalanta Academy in 2015. He has then made a name for himself with very good outings since he made his debut in a home draw against Udinese Calcio when he came on as an 85th-minute substitute. 

He has also featured for the Italy senior national team, earning eight caps. He is currently valued at £52.3 million.

3. Warren Zaire-Emery (18-year-old) PSG

In August 2022, Zaïre-Emery made his professional debut with PSG, making history as the team’s youngest player ever. Before earning his first Ligue 1 championship in his rookie season, he made history as the club’s youngest goalscorer ever and the youngest player in the history of the UEFA Champions League to start a knockout phase match, all at the age of 16. He won a domestic triple and cemented his position as a starter in his second season.

The Frenchman is valued at £58.5 million.

2. Joao Neves (19-year-old) PSG

After going through Benfica’s development system, Neves made an impression with the reserve team. He helped the team win the UEFA Development League in 2021–2022 and contributed significantly to Benfica’s first European championship in sixty years. After that, he was elevated to the first team and, at the age of 18, made his professional debut, helping Benfica win the league in his first year of play. He paid a €60 million transfer fee to join Paris Saint-Germain in August of 2024.

Joao Neves is an exceptional player and is currently valued at £61.6 million.

1. Lamine Yamal (17-year-old) Barcelona

Barcelona and Spain’s Golden Boy is currently valued at £77.5 million and the world’s most valuable in the under-21 age range. Recognised for his skill in dribbling, crossing, speed, technical proficiency, and vision, he is considered one of the world’s top young football players. The youngster recently helped Spain lift the European Championship trophy and has cemented his spot on the left wing at Barcelona. At his age, all of Barcelona’s attacks go through him, an indication that the Blaugranes heavily depend on him.

During the season, Yamal, then 16 years old, smashed multiple records for Barcelona, recording 50 appearances across all competitions. In La Liga, Yamal made history as the team’s youngest starter, the youngest player to record an assist, the youngest player to score in the league and Barcelona, the youngest player to play for Barcelona in an El Clásico, the youngest player to score a brace in La Liga, and the first player to do so before the age of 17. The list can go on.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/08/top-10-most-expensive-u-21-footballers/