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It is the same old story in Ligue 1: PSG are firmly ahead in the table. Kylian Mbappé isn’t just the most valuable player on the planet but also leads a league that continues to produce talents at an incredible rate in scoring. As part of the latest update, 132 players received new market values and some of the biggest upgrades go to U21 players. But while many young players received upgrades, PSG’s €95m signing Randal Kolo Muani dropped in value once again. 

The most significant increase in market value goes to Lille talent Leny Yoro. The 18-year-old defender saw his market value increase from €25m to €40m, which makes him the most valuable defender aged 19 or under. “Lille is alive and well in the chase for a direct Champions League qualification spot, and Yoro plays a big part in that,” Area Manager for France, Ronan Caroff, said. “During the January transfer window, Real Madrid joined PSG as one of the teams interested in Yoro. He is considered the biggest defensive talent in France. His new market value reflects his development.” When compared with international top-level centre-backs, Yoro now ranks ahead of Ousmane Diomande (Sporting), Fikayo Tomori (Milan), and Nathan Aké (Man City).

Lille have managed 21 clean sheets in 38 games across all competitions this season and Yoro featured in 20 games in which his club avoided conceding a single goal. In Ligue 1, only one other teenager played more minutes than the Lille defender: Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes (+€2m to €12m) with 2,250 minutes. Yoro has managed 2,039 minutes of playing time this season. “The high demand in Yoro isn’t just based on his high level of performance,” Caroff said. “In an era in which big clubs are ever more interested in young talents, he has shown maturity and focus, which makes him tick all the boxes on and off the pitch. That makes him an ideal candidate for a big transfer. As Lille are known as a fierce negotiator, Yoro could become a big topic this summer.” 

While Yoro is on the up, PSG striker Kolo Muani’s nightmare start in Ligue 1 continues. The striker has managed just six goals across 882 minutes of playing time since he forced a move from Eintracht Frankfurt for €95m last summer. Kolo Muani is still looking for the sort of form that made him one of the most in-demand players during the 2022/23 season. The striker was subsequently downgraded by €10m to €60m. “With the €95m invested in him in mind, Kolo Muani is having a disappointing season,” France expert Caroff said. “He was supposed to become a goalscoring machine to supplement Mbappé. But it is now mid-March and Mbappé is the only player to have scored more than 10 goals. The downgrade was without alternative.” 

The fourth-most valuable squad in the world suffered a drop by €11m. But some players at PSG saw their market value increase. Among them is U21 national team player Bradley Barcola (+€10m to €40m) and Brazilian winter signing Lucas Beraldo (+€5m to €20m). Both are regulars in the team coached by Luis Enrique. “The pressure to be the most expensive signing in Ligue 1 this winter with a transfer fee of €20m never fazed Beraldo, which is remarkable as the 20-year-old had no previous experience of playing in Europe,” Caroff said. “He has benefited from Milan Skriniar’s injury and Nuno Mendes’ slow return to form. Beraldo has impressed as a centre-back and as a left-back this season.” 

Another player who has become increasingly important since December has been the 18-year-old midfield all-rounder Désiré Doué at Stade Rennais. The academy product has impressed as a winger in his second professional season with the club. His market value increased from €15m to €20m, and he is now among the top five most valuable midfielders aged 18 or younger. “After starting just five of 23 possible games ahead of New Year’s Eve, it appeared Doué’s incredible development had come to a standstill,” Caroff said. “But under new head coach Julien Stéphan, Doué recaptured his spot in the starting XI and is now one of the faces of Rennais’ strong second half of the season.” The U21 national team player has been directly involved in six goals since December, leading his club from the relegation zone towards a spot in European competition. 

How Transfermarkt market values work

The Transfermarkt market values are calculated, taking into account various pricing models. A major factor is the Transfermarkt community, whose members discuss and evaluate player market values in detail. In general, the Transfermarkt market values are not to be equated with transfer fees. 

The goal is not to predict a price but an expected value of a player in a free market. Both individual transfer modalities and situational conditions are relevant in determining market values. Examples of this are listed below. Transfermarkt does not use an algorithm (you can find the detailed market value definition here).

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