According to research conducted by the CIES Football Observatory in June 2022, Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Jr, and Erling Haaland hold the highest estimated transfer values globally. The CIES calculates these figures using various factors, including player age, on-pitch performance, club financial strength, and market inflation trends.
French striker Kylian Mbappé tops the valuation, estimated at €205.6 million (£175.7m). The 23-year-old recently signed a new three-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain, snubbing a potential move to Real Madrid after helping PSG secure the 2021-22 Ligue 1 title with 28 goals.
Following Mbappé is Real Madrid’s Champions League final match-winner, Vinicius Jr, valued at £158.3m, and Manchester City-bound striker Erling Haaland in third place at £130.4m. Haaland was set to join City from Borussia Dortmund after his club triggered his relatively lower €60 million (£51.2m) release clause.
The valuation confirmed the dominance of English football, with 41 representatives from Premier League clubs featuring in the top 100. Midfielder Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund was the highest-valued English player, ranking fifth globally at £114.1m, followed by his international teammate, Manchester City’s Phil Foden, in sixth place with a £105.9m valuation.
Other highly rated English stars included Jadon Sancho (£88.1m), Mason Mount (£85.7m), and Bukayo Saka (£85.6m). Manchester City defender Rúben Dias was ranked as the most valuable defender overall in ninth place at £93.6m.
The list also highlighted the extreme ends of the age and positional spectrum: Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne, the then-30-year-old Premier League Player of the Season, was the oldest player in the top 100 (£48.9m), while Barcelona’s 17-year-old midfielder Gavi was the youngest (£49.9m). PSG’s European Championship winner Gianluigi Donnarumma was the most valuable goalkeeper at £62.9m. Outside of Europe’s top five leagues, Darwin Nunez, heavily linked with a move from Benfica, held the highest valuation at £59.9m.
