10 most valuable under-20 players

Alphonso Davies, Erling Haaland and Ansu Fati
Alphonso Davies, Erling Haaland and Ansu Fati

These are some of the brightest young prospects in football and these individuals will cost any teams that want to sign them a fortune.

Well, it's not a bad time to be looking at the most valuable players aged under 20 seeing as how we're now done with the January transfer window and headed into the second half of the season. To reduce that to essentials, a lot of teams are going to register their interests in these youngsters in the summer transfer window and for obvious reasons.

Players under 20 have their entire football career ahead of them. Let's not say that they get a free pass until they're 20 but they're largely excused for dropping stinkers on an odd day because top-flight football is, after all, a strenuous profession that comes with an acute amount of scrutiny.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the top 10 most valuable players aged under 20.

All figures courtesy: Transfermarkt


#10 Dejan Kulusevski (Juventus) - £40.5 million

FC Internazionale v Juventus - Serie A
FC Internazionale v Juventus - Serie A

There is only one representative from Serie A on the list and it is quite fitting that he was the recipient of the best young player in the league last season. Juventus signed 20-year-old Dejan Kulusevski in January 2020 but he spent the remainder of the season on loan at Parma.

Andrea Pirlo has been slowly integrating him into the first team setup and the youngster has made eight starts in the Serie A so far. Kulusevski has come off the bench nine times. He has scored three goals and registered an assist in that time.

He has also been impressive in the Coppa Italia and the winger has two goals from two appearances in the cup competition for the Bianconeri. He is expected to go and do big things in the years to come and Juventus view him as one of their man players for the future.

#9 Ferran Torres (Manchester City) - £45 million

West Bromwich Albion v Manchester City - Premier League
West Bromwich Albion v Manchester City - Premier League

The Manchester City winger walked into an already star studded lineup. But he's now slowly putting his talents on show and it'd be fair to mark him as an absolute steal as the Cityzens bought him for a sum in the ballpark of £21 million rising to £24 million with bonuses.

Ferran Torres has definitely shown us that he is a great addition to Pep Guardiola's army and he has already racked up eight goals and two assists this season from across all competitions for Manchester City.

The youngster loves taking defenders on and will undoubtedly go on to become a menacing presence down the right flank for the Etihad outfit in the years to come.

#8 Mason Greenwood (Manchester United) - £45 million

Manchester United v Liverpool: The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
Manchester United v Liverpool: The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round

Mason Greenwood's stocks have depreciated a bit this season. The youngster has had to deal with a lot of issues on a personal level and there's no doubt that he will be back to his best pretty soon. He was the Red Devils' breakout star last season, scoring plenty of important goals.

Greenwood is still being used as a right-winger at Manchester United but that doesn't mean that he is not given the freedom to bomb into the box and go hell for leather. He has scored only four goals this season so far which is quite a drop from the 19 goals and seven assists he picked up last season.

That he is the additional striker in a team that currently has Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial certainly doesn't help. But he is in a great place to learn from and he is still only 19-years-old.

#7 Pedri (Barcelona) - £45 million

FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Supercopa de Espana Final
FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Supercopa de Espana Final

The young Barcelona midfielder has been an absolute revelation this season. When all the stars around him seemed to struggle to hit their stride, it is Pedri that stepped up and delivered for the Cules on several important occasions already.

Barcelona have missed having an exquisite playmaker like Andres Iniesta ever since the legend of the game left the Camp Nou. But Pedri has been offering flashes of the same this season. Though he is just 18, he shows incredible levels of maturity on the football field.

If he can keep this up, he will go on to become one of the finest midfielders of his generation.

#6 Phil Foden (Manchester City) - £54 million

Manchester City v Sheffield United - Premier League
Manchester City v Sheffield United - Premier League

Manchester City were expected to miss David Silva more dearly this season. Though they stuttered a bit in the beginning of the new campaign, they have come to their own over the past couple of months and that has a lot to do with players like Phil Foden stepping up to the plate and delivering the goods fearlessly.

Foden has been excellent for Manchester City and has nine goals and three assists from 27 appearances across all competitions. He can occupy a number of positions in midfield thanks to his versatility. His movement is exquisite and often pops up in the right place at the right time to score goals or set his teammates up for one.

Foden is one of the best players to have come out of Manchester City's youth system and his transfer market valuation is only going to rise in the coming years.

#5 Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes) - £54 million

Eduardo Camavinga
Eduardo Camavinga

18-year-old Eduardo Camavinga is one of the most promising young central midfielders in the game right now. The Rennes midfielder has been likened to compatriot Paul Pogba and has garnered the attention of several European giants.

Real Madrid is currently marked as his most likely destination as Zinedine Zidane is a big fan of the player who has already made his international debut. Camavinga is also the only Ligue 1 player on the list.

Camavinga is excellent at tackling and winning the ball back and could grow onto become a great holding midfielder in the future.

#4 Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) - £72 million

Holstein Kiel v Bayern Muenchen - DFB Cup: Second Round
Holstein Kiel v Bayern Muenchen - DFB Cup: Second Round

Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies came from Vancouver Whitecaps and was initially viewed as a deputy to Lucas Hernandez. However, Davies displaced Hernandez from the starting lineup in no time and became a crucial part of Hansi Flick's side that went on to become continental treble winners in the 2019-20 season.

While his defensive skills are well-rounded as he can compete well in the air and not shy away from tackles, it's Davies' attacking skills that set him apart. The 20-year-old loves taking defenders on and has an excellent passing range as well.

The Canadian international has had injury issues this season but he should be back to his best in no time.

#3 Ansu Fati (Barcelona) - £72 million

FC Barcelona v Sevilla FC - La Liga Santander
FC Barcelona v Sevilla FC - La Liga Santander

Ansu Fati saved Barcelona's blushes at the beginning of the season. When Lionel Messi and co. were still distraught from the implosion at the club, it was the unlikely youngster who stepped up and delivered.

Thanks to his excellent showings, his market value has skyrocketed and he is now one of the three most valuable players aged under 20. It's a shame that he picked up a knee injury in November and is still sidelined after undergoing surgery.

Up until that point, Ansu Fati had scored five goals and provided two assists from across 10 appearances in the La Liga and UEFA Champions League combined. It might still be early to tip him to be the long-term successor to Lionel Messi but Ansu Fati shows an immense amount of potential.

#2 Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) - £90 million

Borussia Dortmund v FC Augsburg - Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund v FC Augsburg - Bundesliga

Well, Jadon Sancho's stocks had taken a hit in the first half of the season. The player was unsettled at Borussia Dortmund after a move to Manchester United broke down in the summer. However, Sancho seems to have shaken off his demons and put his foot on the gas.

Sancho has been in excellent form of late and he now has nine assists and seven goals to his name this season from across all competitions. Manchester United are expected to return for Sancho in the summer and he should be available for cheaper than he was last summer.

Sancho is an excellent winger and he can slalom past defenders by virtue of his silky feet and blistering pace.

#1 Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) - £90 million

Borussia Dortmund v FC Augsburg - Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund v FC Augsburg - Bundesliga

Erling Haaland has been one player who has lived up to his hype like it was a cinch. The Norwegian striker has been an absolute menace and has been scoring goals for fun at Borussia Dortmund.

He has already scored 21 goals for Dortmund from 19 appearances across all competitions this term. The 20-year-old is one of the best strikers in Europe right now. In addition to being an excellent marksman, Haaland has also been praised for his attitude and mentality as well.

He is expected to leave Dortmund in the near future and several European giants are set to line up for his signature when he decides to move on.

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Edited by Shambhu Ajith
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