Biggest EPL upgrade in latest update 

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It sums up Manchester United’s dismal campaign that an 18-year-old academy graduate has represented their main source of solace. United’s academy is renowned for producing exceptional youngsters and they’ve developed another generational talent in Kobbie Mainoo. 

Jonny Evans, Scott McTominay, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho have all graduated from United’s academy to become current first-team players and Mainoo is the latest to emerge. Erik ten Hag handed the midfielder his professional debut against Charlton Athletic last season with the Dutchman quickly identifying Mainoo as a first-team prospect after being appointed manager. Ten Hag planned on including Mainoo in his starting eleven before he suffered a serious injury in pre-season but he’s flourished since returning. The Englishman’s incredible rise this season has been reflected by his market value increasing by €29 million in the latest Transfermarkt update.

Kobbie Mainoo: Fourth most valuable teenage midfielder in the world

Mainoo was the biggest winner of the Premier League intermediary update as his €29m upgrade was €14m more than second-placed Phil Foden. Mainoo’s valuation has soared across the last 12 months to €35m and that ranks him fourth amongst all teenage midfielders in the world, as illustrated on the graphic below.

Barcelona starlet Gavi is the most valuable teenage midfielder in the world at €90m, followed by PSG sensation Warren Zaïre-Emery at €60m. Benfica’s João Neves ranks third and the Portuguese youngster has been strongly linked with a move to Man United in the summer. 

The incredible rise of Kobbie Mainoo at Manchester United

Mainoo gained his first market value of €300k in November 2022, the month after making the first-team bench for the first time against Newcastle United. After making his first-team debut against Charlton, Mainoo’s value increased to €800k in March 2023 and it remained the same in last summer’s update. The England youth international received the man of the match award on his first Premier League start against Everton in November and his market value increased to €6m in the winter update. Mainoo has enjoyed the ninth biggest market value rise (€34m) in the world since July and that’s a sign of his incredible talent. 

How good is Kobbie Mainoo?

Mainoo’s potential is enormous and he plays with a maturity that defies his age. Man United have been chaotic and dysfunctional this season, but Mainoo constantly looks the calmest man on the pitch. He possesses the ability to receive possession under pressure and can manipulate his body to evade pressure and his passing is generally pinpoint. Mainoo actually played as a striker as he progressed through the youth ranks at United but he’s undoubtedly now a midfielder. Mainoo is comfortable as a No.6 or a No.8 and it will be interesting to discover what role he settles in as his career progresses.

“Kobbie Mainoo has been a breath of fresh air in an underperforming Man United team this season,” said Ben Littlemore, Transfermarkt’s UK Content Manager. “Whilst many of those around him have lacked the composure to control games, at just 18 years of age, he has looked the calmest player. He has an ability that very few centre-midfielders have. Before he receives the ball, he knows not only what he’s going to do with it, but how he is going to feint his body to make the opposition believe he’s going to do something else with the ball. Meaning he always looks like he has more time on the ball. I believe if Mainoo can avoid injuries and carry on at the same trajectory he is destined for the top with both Man United and England.”

Could Kobbie Mainoo earn an England call-up for Euro 2024? 

England’s squad is littered with world-class talent but their midfield is arguably the weakest area of their squad. While Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are nailed on starters, the third midfielder in Gareth Southgate’s preferred 4-3-3 formation is up for debate. There was strong calls for the England boss to call-up Mainoo for the upcoming friendlies this month but he resisted the urge with the Man United star named in the under-21 squad and Southgate explained his rationale.

“I think that he’s doing brilliantly for a young player and we’re never slow to put a young player into seniors,” Southgate said. “But he’s only had a handful of games and you have to be very careful development-wise in making those decisions at the right time. So we think ideally, we should allow him that space to develop at his own speed. He’s not at the point in terms of number of games that Jude (Bellingham) and Bukayo (Saka) were when they came in for the first time. But I repeat: he’s doing really well for a young player. He’s a good footballer – you can see that. And he’s getting some fabulous experience with Manchester United at the moment. And he looks like a really good character.”

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