The Bundesliga has always been a hotbed for talented youngsters and the current crop of players is following a similar pattern. The German top flight boasts some of the world's best players, and also the most valuable.
With youngsters attracting higher transfer fees, players between 18 and 25 years of age are naturally more valuable. If they are performing at the top level consistently, their market values are bound to soar higher and higher.
As per the CIES football observatory, the Bundesliga, which is rich with a highly talented set of youngsters, has some of the world's most valuable players. Naturally, all five of the players on this list are still young and have a lot to achieve in the football world.
Here are the five most valuable Bundesliga players according to the CIES:
#5 Leroy Sane (€102.4 million)
Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane is currently the fifth most valuable player in the German first division. His value in the transfer market stands at €102.4 million.
The former Manchester City star moved to Bayern Munich in the 2020 summer transfer window for €60 million. And in just two seasons, as per CIES, his market value has increased by over €40 million.
He has been in fine form this season, scoring 11 goals and providing 13 assists in 27 matches for the Bavarian giants across all competitions. Sane has signed a five-year deal with Bayern upon his arrival at the Allianz Arena, which will keep him at the club until 2025.
#4 Alphonso Davies (€122.3 million)
Alphonso Davies is the most valuable Bayern Munich player and the fourth-most valuable Bundesliga player as per CIES. The 21-year-old left-back joined the Bundesliga giants from Vancouver Whitecaps in 2019 for a nominal fee of €10 million.
His performances, however, have been far more valuable for Bayern. The Canada international has grown into one of the most influential players in the league, terrorizing defenses with his frightening pace.
Currently, Davies is valued at a massive €122.3 million by CIES. As far as numbers go, he has made 12 appearances for Bayern Munich this season, providing six assists in the process. Davies is currently recovering after suffering a minor inflammation in his heart.
#3 Jude Bellingham (€130.1 million)
Jude Bellingham arrived in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund as a 17-year-old midfield prodigy from Birmingham for €23 million. He has since gone on to cement his spot in the Dortmund first team and has grown into one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe.
His current market value, as per CIES, is €130.1 million, making him the third most valuable player in the Bundesliga. The Englishman has recently been linked with a move to the Premier League with Manchester United and Liverpool believed to be heavily interested in the teenager.
But if the CIES study is anything to go by, the English giants will have to make Bellingham their most expensive signing ever.
The 18-year-old has made 18 appearances for Dortmund across all competitions this season, scoring four and assisting 10 goals. Bellingham also has 10 England caps under his belt and will still have three years left on his contract with the German giants after the end of this season.
#2 Florian Wirtz (€133 million)
Florian Wirtz, the 18-year-old Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder, is currently the second-most valuable player in the Bundesliga. His current market value is €133 million.
Wirtz joined the Leverkusen U19 side in the 2020 winter transfer window from FC Koln and was promoted to the first team after just six months. He impressed in his first-ever season in the Bundesliga, taking almost no time to settle down. The teenager made 38 appearances across competitions for Leverkusen, scoring eight goals and assisting as many as well.
Wirtz has continued from where he left off and has already bettered his numbers from last season in the ongoing campaign. He has scored eight goals and provided 12 assists in 24 appearances across all competitions. Only Thomas Muller (16) has provided more assists than Wirtz (nine) in the German top flight.
#1 Erling Haaland (€142.5 million)
Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland is the most valuable Bundesliga player as per CIES. The Norwegian is currently valued at a massive €142.5 million in the market.
But Haaland reportedly has a clause included in his contract with Dortmund which would allow interested clubs to sign him for €75 million after the 2021-22 season. It would still be a massive profit for Dortmund, who got hold of the young forward for just €20 million from RB Salzburg in the 2020 winter transfer window.
Haaland has since gone on to establish himself as one of the most lethal strikers across Europe's top leagues. Haaland has scored 23 goals in just 20 appearances for Dortmund this season and has provided six assists as well.