20 Most Valuable Football Players in the World

According to Transfermarkt's latest valuations, 12 players are now valued at over £100 million. Among them, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior are each rated at £152 million.

By: Anna Ciao

07/23/2024 06:31

It seems football transfers have reached new heights of excess. It feels like just yesterday that Paul Pogba became the first £100 million player, a figure that has now become fairly routine.

In the 2023 summer transfer window, defensive midfielders Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo both commanded nine-figure fees, with Caicedo becoming the most expensive Premier League transfer ever. Considering £100 million now secures a 21-year-old midfielder with just one year of top-flight experience, it's hard to imagine the cost of acquiring the world's elite players.

According to Transfermarkt's latest valuations, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Junior, and Kylian Mbappe are the most valuable players globally, each valued at €180 million (£152 million).

The Most Valuable Footballers in the World
Rank	Player	Club	Valuation
1	Jude Bellingham	Real Madrid	£152m (€180m)
2	Erling Haaland	Man City	£152m (€180m)
3	Vinicius Junior	Real Madrid	£152m (€180m)
4	Kylian Mbappe	Real Madrid	£152m (€180m)
5	Phil Foden	Man City	£126m (€150m)
6	Bukayo Saka	Arsenal	£118m (€140m)
7	Florian Wirtz	Bayer Leverkusn	£110m (€130m)
8	Jamal Musiala	Bayern Munich	£110m (€130m)
9	Rodri	Manchester City	£110m (€130m)
10	Lamine Yamal	Barcelona	£101m (€120m)
11	Federico Valverde	Real Madrid	£101m (€120m)
12	Declan Rice	Arsenal	£101m (€120m)
13	Rodrygo	Real Madrid	£93m (€110m)
14	Lautaro Martinez	Inter Milan	£93m (€110m)
15	Martin Odegaard	Arsenal	£93m (€110m)
16	Eduardo Camavinga	Real Madrid	£84m (€100m)
17	Aurelien Tchouameni	Real Madrid	£84m (€100m)
18	Victor Osimhen	Napoli	£84m (€100m)
19	Harry Kane	Bayern Munich	£84m (€100m)
20	Gavi	Barcelona	£76m (€90m)

1. Jude Bellingham - £152m

Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham has rapidly risen to become one of the world's elite footballers in recent years. When he transferred from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid in 2023, the deal included a base fee of £88.5m, and Bellingham was handed the number five shirt—an iconic number once worn by the legendary Zinedine Zidane.

Has Bellingham lived up to the legacy of Zidane's famed jersey? The early signs are promising. At just 21 years old, Bellingham has quickly established himself as a key player for Madrid, surpassing the 20-goal mark in all competitions by the spring, despite primarily playing in midfield. His impressive performance underscores why he is already regarded as one of the top English talents to have played abroad.

Jude Bellingham's 2023/24 Stats
Games	42
Goals	23
Assists	13
Contract expires	30th June 2029

2. Erling Haaland - £152m

Manchester City

Although he may have lost his status as the world’s most valuable player since last season, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland remains a significant asset. Despite not matching his remarkable tally of 52 goals from his debut season, Haaland still finished the Premier League season with both the Golden Boot and the title.

Costing City a reported £51m, Haaland has proven to be a tremendous bargain. Pep Guardiola described him as 'unique' after he broke the records for league goals in a season previously held by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole in the 2022/23 season. Rio Ferdinand also praised Haaland, highlighting the 'superpower' he brings to the team following City's 7-0 victory over RB Leipzig. Named IFFHS' Footballer of 2023, it’s thrilling to consider that the 24-year-old has yet to reach his full potential.

Erling Haaland's 2023/24 Stats
Games	45
Goals	38
Assists	6
Contract expires	30th June 2027

3. Vinicius Junior - £152m

Real Madrid

Vinicius Junior was heralded as the next Neymar when he joined Real Madrid, and he's certainly lived up to that promise. Although he initially struggled to find the back of the net, Vinicius has evolved into one of the most prolific wingers in global football. In the last two La Liga seasons, he has achieved double figures for both goals and assists, demonstrating his blend of creativity and clinical finishing—evidenced by his decisive goal in the 2023-24 Champions League final against Dortmund at Wembley.

With Karim Benzema's departure, Vinicius has stepped up as one of the main stars at Real Madrid, alongside Jude Bellingham. Defenders fear him for his speed and agility, as he relentlessly pressures opposing full-backs. Given his impressive performances, many anticipate that Vinicius will soon be a serious contender for the Ballon d'Or.

Vinicius Junior's 2023/24 Stats
Games	39
Goals	24
Assists	11
Contract expires	30th June 2027

4. Kylian Mbappe - £152m

Real Madrid

After a protracted transfer saga, Kylian Mbappe has finally joined Real Madrid, and he will be eager to secure the European Cup. As one of the standout footballers since the end of the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi era, Mbappe brings with him a World Cup and six league titles. His trophy cabinet might need additional space soon as he aims to add more silverware in the Spanish capital.

Although his market value is estimated at £152 million, Real Madrid signed him on a free transfer after his contract with PSG expired. However, they did offer him a substantial nine-figure signing-on fee and hefty weekly wages to secure his move.

Kylian Mbappe's 2023/24 Stats
Games	48
Goals	44
Assists	10
Contract expires	30th June 2029

5. Phil Foden - £126m

Manchester City

Phil Foden ranks fifth with a value of £126 million. At just 24 years old, Foden has already made over 200 appearances for Manchester City and has accumulated 17 trophies, including a historic treble in the 2022/23 season. His most recent campaign was also his most productive.

Regarded as one of the most technically gifted English players of his generation, Foden is renowned for his exceptional dribbling skills and still has room to grow. However, he has yet to translate his impressive club form to the international stage. During England's Euro 2024 campaign, Foden struggled, finishing the tournament without a goal or an assist, despite starting in all seven of the Three Lions' matches.

Phil Foden's 2023/24 Stats
Games	53
Goals	27
Assists	12
Contract expires	30th June 2027

6. Bukayo Saka - £118m

Arsenal

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka closely follows his fellow Englishman Phil Foden in value. Having recently signed a new four-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2027, Saka's stellar performances in the 2023/24 season for the Gunners explain his high valuation.

Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has become one of Europe’s top teams, with Saka playing a crucial role in their title challenge, despite narrowly missing out to Foden’s City. Saka is recognized as one of the Premier League’s top wingers and, unlike Foden, he has consistently delivered for his country. His contributions at Euro 2024 were significant, showcasing his ability to perform in key moments.

Bukayo Saka's 2023/24 Stats
Games	47
Goals	20
Assists	14
Contract expires	30th June 2027

7. Florian Wirtz - £110m

Bayer Leverkusen

Florian Wirtz has emerged as a crucial part of Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen setup, playing a key role in their unbeaten Bundesliga title-winning season.

At just 21 years old, Wirtz displays a maturity and footballing intelligence that belies his age. His exceptional ability to make the right decisions with the ball makes him a standout player, and he's proven himself capable of handling big moments. This exceptional form could make him a highly sought-after player in the transfer market this summer. However, staying at Leverkusen might be the best option for his continued development, given the current environment at the club.

Florian Wirtz's 2023/24 Stats
Games	49
Goals	18
Assists	20
Contract expires	30th June 2027

8. Jamal Musiala - £110m

Bayern Munich

Believe it or not, Jamal Musiala was once part of the Chelsea youth academy. After attending Whitgift School in Croydon, he signed with Bayern Munich in 2019. Since then, Musiala has evolved into one of football's most admired young talents, becoming a key player for both Bayern Munich and the German national team—a remarkable twist given his previous involvement in England's youth system alongside Jude Bellingham before he utilized his German passport.

Musiala is currently one of the top young players in the world, known for his dazzling and effective play despite his age. While he was linked with a move to Liverpool in October 2023, any club interested in acquiring him would need to meet his hefty £110 million valuation in today's market.

Jamal Musiala's 2023/24 Stats
Games	38
Goals	12
Assists	8
Contract expires	30th June 2026

9. Rodri - £110m

Manchester City

Few would dispute that Rodri is currently the best midfielder in the world. Although he didn't hit his stride immediately after joining Manchester City in 2019, he has since become outstanding, playing a pivotal role in City's 2022-23 Treble, including scoring the decisive goal in the Champions League final against Inter Milan.

Rodri continued to excel in the subsequent season as City secured their fourth consecutive Premier League title. In the summer of 2024, he also celebrated international success when Spain triumphed over England to win the European Championship.

Rodri's 2023/24 Stats
Games	50
Goals	9
Assists	14
Contract expires	30th June 2027

10. Lamine Yamal - £101m

Barcelona

Another Spaniard, and an exceptionally impressive one at that, is Lamine Yamal. At just 17 years old, Yamal has already emerged as one of the top wingers in world football. The impact he's made at such a young age rivals the early achievements of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, underscoring the extraordinary nature of his rise.

Last season, Yamal made over 50 appearances for Barcelona, with only Ilkay Gundogan featuring more frequently. He also played a crucial role for Spain at Euro 2024, starting in all but one of La Roja's matches on their path to victory in Germany. With a promising future ahead, it would be surprising if Yamal doesn’t eventually become the most valuable footballer in the world.

Lamine Yamal's 2023/24 Stats
Games	50
Goals	7
Assists	10
Contract expires	30th June 2026

All figures and statistics via Transfermarkt

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Written by: Anna Ciao

Anna Ciao is a sports content contributor at Betimate. Born and raised in a rural village in China, I have had a passion for football and various sports such as basketball, volleyball, badminton, from a young age. Along with diligent studies, I achieved an IELTS score of 8.0 in the English language, and I have become a content contributor specializing in sports, particularly football, as I am today. I hope that my articles are helpful to readers.