8 October – FC Porto’s 18-year-old winger Oskar Pietuszewski has been named the most valuable under-20 player in world football currently owned outside Europe’s top five leagues, with the CIES Football Observatory placing a €56.3m price tag on the Polish teenager.
Although currently sidelined with injury, Pietuszewski heads a list full of up-and-coming talent who will likely be on shopping lists around the world this winter.
Ajax’s Jorthy Mokio is not far behind the Pole on €52.9m, while Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Mateus Mané, who impressed in the Premier League last campaign before being relegated to the Championship, completes the top three on €46.1m.
Athletic midfielder João Simões follows with €43.2 million, ahead of Botafogo’s Álvaro Montoro with €39.3 million as the first signing from outside Europe.
The figures are statistical estimates rather than asking prices, but the list is a useful snapshot of how quickly clubs outside Europe’s richest leagues are generating significant value from young players.
Contracts also play a role in the valuations, with Pietuszewski and Mokio tied to their clubs until 2031. Most of the top names on the list have deals until at least 2029.
There is also a much wider geographical spread than the famous Portugal-Netherlands talent channel might suggest.
Al-Hilal’s Kader Meïté is sixth with €33.5m, Shakhtar Donetsk have two players in the top 10, while Anderlecht, Botafogo and Sporting are also represented.
Among the top 100, players come from 24 different leagues around the world. MLS boasts 13, more than any other competition, although only one of them is in the top 20 in Julian Hall of the NY Red Bulls.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at (email protected)
