The CIES Football Observatory has released its latest findings on player transfer values, and this year, youth reigns supreme. All but one of the top 25 most valuable players in world football, per CIES' statistical model, are 25 years old or younger, with Real Madrid's 20-year-old sensation Jude Bellingham taking the no.1 spot on this list.
The Englishman, who moved to Santiago Bernabeu last summer and thus has five more years on his deal, enjoyed an unforgettable debut season in the Spanish capital. The former Dortmund ace is Los Blancos' top scorer in La Liga with 19 goals and their joint-top scorer across all competitions with 23, tied with Vinicius Jr. — though he can claim that title outright in Saturday's UEFA Champions League final against Dortmund.
As a result, Bellingham has been awarded an estimated transfer value of €280.4M, which is slightly over €25M more than the no.2 on this list, which is his former Dortmund teammate Erling Haaland.
The Manchester City striker is valued at €255.3M by CIES despite winning the Premier League for the second year in a row. The Norwegian sensation lifted the treble in his debut campaign, scoring 52 goals across all competitions. However, this tumbled to 38 goals across all competitions this season as Guardiola's men won only one title.
Real Madrid dominate the top five, with Los Blancos players taking up the next two slots on this list thanks to Vinicius Junior's (3rd) €240.8M and Rodrygo's (4th) €220.7M estimated transfer values. Manchester City talent Phil Foden (€203.8M), named the 2023-24 Premier League Player of the Season, narrowly edges out Bukayo Saka (€195.2M) to complete the top five.
Saka is one of two Arsenal players to make the top 10, with the English winger coming in at sixth while club captain Martin Odegaard (€135.6M) is ranked ninth. The North London giants also boast the most valuable defender in the world, with William Saliba's €105.2M valuation placing him ahead of any other defender and 26th overall.
Spanish giants Barcelona have only one representative in the top 10, with 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal (€140.8M) coming in at eighth. Additionally, German sensation Florian Wirtz, the man at the heart of Leverkusen's remarkable unbeaten double, wraps up the top 10 with an estimated transfer value of €133.8M.
Meanwhile, UEFA Champions League finalists Dortmund claimed the honor of having the world's most valuable goalkeeper, with Gregor Kobel's €66.3M narrowly edging out Benfica's Anatoliy Trubin (€66M). Elsewhere, Real Madrid's Federico Valverde (€124.3M) and Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol (€115M) have been rated as the most valuable defensive midfielder and full-back, respectively.
Check out CIES' list of the top 25 most valuable players in world football below.
