New Real Madrid recruit Jude Bellingham is the highest-valued player aged 21 or under in world football.
The Englishman clocks in at an Expected Transfer Value (xTV) of €122.5 million following his switch to Los Blancos from Borussia Dortmund. Still only 19, Bellingham shone at the 2022 World Cup and hit 12 goals and five assists across all competitions last term.
He has also taken to life at Real Madrid like a duck to water and is now the third most valuable player in the entirety of world football – behind only Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
READ: The 10 highest valued players in the world
Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala, who scored the Bavarians’ title-winning goal last season, is second on the list with an xTV of €94.9m.
Barcelona midfielder Gavi is the third highest-valued player aged 21 or under, with an xTV of €76.2m. That has dropped significantly from his €102.9m xTV in April.
Following his impressive breakout onto the senior stage, the young Spanish superstar was linked with a transfer to the Premier League due to a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave if Barcelona were unable to register him, but that is behind him now and he remains a key part of Xavi’s imperious Blaugrana.
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Bellingham’s new team-mate Eduardo Camavinga’s xTV has been rising rapidly and now sits at €74.5m, beating out Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol (€74.2m) and Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo (€73.1m).
Caicedo was valued at just €38m when he joined the Blues, but has seen his xTV increase hugely following his move to Stamford Bridge.
Barcelona midfielder Pedri has suffered an xTV drop over the past year due to consistent injury problems. The Spaniard is now the seventh-most valuable player aged 21 or under in world football, with an xTV of €60m. That figure was as high as €76.5m in April 2023.
Manchester United summer signing Rasmus Hojlund is eighth thanks to his €51.9m valuation, although his xTV rose massively when he left Atalanta. He was valued at just €37.4m when he moved to Old Trafford.
Yeremy Pino (€48.2m) and Ryan Gravenberch (€48m) complete the top 10.
The 10 highest valued U21 players in world football
| Player | Age | Club | xTV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Jude Bellingham | 20 | Real Madrid | €122.5m |
| 2. Jamal Musiala | 20 | Bayern | €94.9m |
| 3. Gavi | 19 | Barcelona | €76.2m |
| 4. Eduardo Camavinga | 20 | Real Madrid | €74.5m |
| 5. Josko Gvardiol | 21 | Man City | €74.2m |
| 6. Moises Caicedo | 21 | Chelsea | €73.1m |
| 7. Pedri | 20 | Barcelona | €61.7m |
| 8. Rasmus Hojlund | 20 | Man Utd | €51.9m |
| 9. Yeremy Pino | 20 | Villarreal | €48.2m |
| 10. Ryan Gravenberch | 21 | Liverpool | €48m |
