8. Andre Gomes (Valencia CF 2016/2017) – €35 million
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Only 13 caps into his international career and Andre Gomes is already a European champion, as Portugal won the UEFA Euro 2016 courtesy of Eder’s late, late goal against the hosts. The 22yr-old central midfielder’s fledgling career has already seen him win a host of silverware as his early period with Benfica saw him become a domestic treble winner in the 2013/2014 season.
He played 23 times that season, scoring just twice but establishing himself as an important member of that dominant squad. It earned him a move to La Liga side Valencia on loan, where he played 34 times and scored 4 goals before signing on permanently before the new season started.
In 2015/2016, Andre Gomes played a a huge role in Valencia’s campaign, making 41 appearances and scoring 5 goals as he was selected for the UEFA Euro 2016 team. His strong physical displays and intelligent positioning formed a perfect foil for William Carvalho and/or Joao Moutinho as a resilient Portuguese side went on to win the Euro unexpectedly.
With international teammate Cristiano Ronaldo’s team sniffing around, Barcelona immediately stole in and signed him for a significant fee. Will he be worth it? Only time can tell, but he is a burgeoning star in the European football scene.
