The latest Soccerex 20 Under-21 Report values the game’s best young talent, with a player valued in excess of €200m for the first time
Talk of a Golden Generation of talent in the world of football is nothing new, but the glut of young stars currently breaking through suggests we stand on the threshold of a memorable era.
The latest ‘Soccerex 20 Under-21 report’, produced in partnership with Prime Time Sport, offers an indication of the breadth of talent presently on the books of some of Europe’s most pre-eminent clubs.
Using Prime Time Sport’s Football Value Index to rank footballers born on or after January 1, 1998, the report takes into account the player’s age, position, current club, contract length, market value perception, international caps, minutes played, goals, injuries and technical quality from a variety of sources to arrive at a final valuation.
For the first time, there is a player valued in excess of €200 million, while there is strong representation from the Premier League. Other notable points on the latest list are the absence of any Spanish players and the lack of an out-and-out striker.
Getty Images20Callum Hudson-Odoi | Chelsea | €31.7m (£28.5m/$35.5m)
The Chelsea winger enjoyed a breakthrough year last season as he established himself as a key figure in the second half of the campaign and earned his England international debut.
Currently sidelined by an Achilles injury, Hudson-Odoi remains a target for Bayern Munich, but Chelsea are hopeful he will sign a new contract.
AdvertisementGetty19Samuel Chukwueze | Villarreal | €32.3m (£29.1m/$36.3m)
Another winger to have enjoyed a major breakthrough last season, Chukwueze’s dazzling displays for Villarreal have drawn comparisons to Arjen Robben.
Linked with both Liverpool and Manchester City, Chukwueze is focusing on ensuring he has regular playing time and has also featured for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Getty Images18Ryan Sessegnon | Fulham | €33.8m (£30.4m/$37.9m)
Ryan Sessegnon retains his position in the top 20, although the Fulham youngster probably didn’t make the impact expected of him in the Premier League last season during a year of struggle for his club.
Tottenham continue to be heavily linked with a bid for Sessegnon, who can play at left-back or on the left wing.
Ricardo Nogueira17Rodrygo | Real Madrid | €35.3m (£31.7m/$39.6m)
Rodrygo is another teenager to keep his place in the top 20 and, 12 months on from agreeing a move to Real Madrid, the forward has now pitched up at the Santiago Bernabeu from Santos.
Tipped to eventually have a similar impact to his fellow Brazilian wonderkid Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo forms part of a squad refresh in Madrid under Zinedine Zidane.