The world’s most valuable under-21 footballers have been revealed by the CIES Football Observatory, with Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal and Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho leading the rankings.
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Yamal, 17, has taken the footballing world by storm, valued at a staggering £150 million. His heroics at Euro 2024, where he helped Spain win the tournament and claimed the Young Player of the Tournament award, have cemented his place at the top.
The teenage prodigy has scored five goals and provided seven assists in just 12 La Liga appearances this season, continuing his meteoric rise with Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
Alejandro Garnacho – Man Utd’s Shining Star
Hot on Yamal’s heels is Manchester United and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho, valued at £95 million. The 20-year-old has emerged as a bright spot in United’s challenging campaign, registering seven goals and four assists across all competitions this season.
Garnacho’s performances have outshone even established stars like Bukayo Saka and Kylian Mbappé in terms of goal contributions, solidifying his status as one of football’s most exciting young talents.
Other Premier League Rising Stars
Garnacho is joined on the list by teammates Kobbie Mainoo (£62m) and Leny Yoro (£45m), though both have been sidelined by injuries. Premier League representatives also include Manchester City’s Rico Lewis (£72m), Brighton’s trio Evan Ferguson (£51m), Carlos Baleba (£43m), and Facundo Buonanotte (£48m), as well as Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran (£58m).
CIES Top 7 Most Valuable U-21 Players
- Lamine Yamal (17) – Barcelona – £150m
- Alejandro Garnacho (20) – Manchester United – £95m
- Warren Zaire-Emery (18) – PSG – £90m
- Savio Moreira (20) – Manchester City – £84m
- Joao Neves (20) – PSG – £83m
- Endrick (18) – Real Madrid – £81m
- Rico Lewis (19) – Manchester City – £72m
Global Talent Pool Expands
The list highlights the growing influence of youth talent in football, with stars like Arda Güler (Real Madrid, £63m), Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich, £48m), and Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (£48m) also making the top 20.
For the full top 100 rankings, visit the CIES Football Observatory.
Future Stars to Watch
With Garnacho spearheading Manchester United’s resurgence and Yamal leading a new era for Barcelona and Spain, the future of football looks brighter than ever. Fans can only wait to see how these young stars shape the game in the coming years.