Bayern Munich star top! 

©TM/IMAGO

The new year of 2026 is now upon us and a handful of wonderkids have enjoyed an outstanding 2025. Youngsters are now handed more opportunities than ever before, with clubs determined to unearth the next gem. Major clubs are determined to find the next superstar, while smaller clubs’ business models revolve around selling players for a profit.

Lamine Yamal has firmly cemented his reputation as the best youngster on the planet with the Barcelona superstar the joint-most valuable player in the world on Transfermarkt at €200 million. The 18-year-old continues to sparkle for club and country but other starlets have enjoyed their breakthrough year in 2025. And we’ve compiled the list of the top ten U21 talents to gain the most market value across the calendar year.

Which U21 stars gained the most market value in 2025?

Lennart Karl only made his Bundesliga debut in August for Bayern Munich but he’s already showcased why he’s viewed as the best young German talent. The 17-year-old made history by becoming the youngest player to score in three consecutive Champions League games and after gaining his first market value in June, Karl’s valuation has soared by €60m. As the graphic below illustrates, Dean Huijsen ranks second with the Spanish international jumping by €52m, from €18m to €70m – two other Real Madrid stars feature in the top tne.

Two PSG stars increased by €50m on the back of their maiden Champions League title, Désiré Doué and João Neves – the former is third as Transfermarkt players with same increases based on age. Yan Diomande completes the top five with the Ivorian winger generating interest from Europe’s biggest clubs due to his excellence for RB Leipzig. Nico O’Reilly is the only Premier League player in the top ten with the Manchester City winger rewarded for his superb form.