Top ten most valuable football players in the world in 2022

PSG star Kylian Mbappé leads the way in football’s estimated transfer value list

Kylian Mbappe has signed a new deal with Paris Saint-Germain
Kylian Mbappe has signed a new deal at PSG
(Image credit: Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Football’s summer transfer window is yet to open, but already the futures of two world-class players have already been decided.

After months of speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid, the Kylian Mbappé “transfer saga” finally came to a conclusion in May, said ESPN. The 23-year-old confirmed he was staying at Paris Saint-Germain and has signed a new three-year contract with the French champions.

In the Premier League, champions Manchester City have bolstered their attack with the signing of Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund. The 21-year-old cost an initial £51.1m and City are expected to pay £85.5m in total when “agent fees, signing bonus and other costs are taken into account”, said Sky Sports.

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Ahead of the summer break, the CIES Football Observatory has released its list of the top 100 estimated transfer values for players worldwide. The research group uses a range of variables – player’s age, contract, performances, economic value of their club and inflation – to work out estimated transfer values, the BBC reported.

Thanks to his bumper new deal, Mbappé takes the No.1 spot ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League hero Vinícius Júnior and Man City new boy Haaland. Here we look at the top ten…

1. Kylian Mbappé: €205.6m (£175.7m)

Kylian Mbappé starred as France won the World Cup in 2018

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Forward, age 23 – Paris Saint-Germain and France

He’s only 23, but Kylian Mbappé has already won the Fifa World Cup, as a 19-year-old with France in 2018. The striker will be aiming to repeat the feat when the world champions defend their crown in Qatar later this year. With his new contract reportedly worth €250m (£213.6m) over three years, the deal makes him the “most powerful figure at PSG”, said The Guardian.

2. Vinícius Júnior: €185.3m (£158.3m)

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid

(Image credit: Matthew Ashton/AMA/Getty Images)

Forward, age 21 – Real Madrid and Brazil

Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior scored the winning goal for Real Madrid in the 2022 Uefa Champions League final against Liverpool. The 21-year-old, who also scored 17 goals as Real won Spain’s La Liga title, is recognised by fans as “one of the biggest young talents in world football”, said Sporf.

3. Erling Haaland: €152.6m (£130.4m)

Erling Haaland of Norway

(Image credit: Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

Forward, age 21 – Manchester City and Norway

With the signing of Erling Haaland, Man City boss Pep Guardiola will hope the Norway star can finally fire the English giants to Champions League glory. The 21-year-old will join City on 1 July and the deal ends the search for a “long-term successor” to record goalscorer Sergio Agüero, said The Guardian.

4. Pedri: €135.1m (£115.4m)

Pedri of FC Barcelona

(Image credit: Alex Caparros/Uefa via Getty Images)

Midfielder, age 19 – FC Barcelona and Spain

Pedro González López, known as “Pedri”, has looked “mature beyond his years” at the heart of Barcelona’s midfield, said Goal.com. The Spaniard, 19, has a “sparkling future ahead of him at Camp Nou”.

5. Jude Bellingham: €133.7m (£114.2m)

Jude Bellingham of England

(Image credit: James Williamson/AMA/Getty Images)

Midfielder, age 18 – Borussia Dortmund and England

Jude Bellingham, 18, is the youngest player in the top ten. Already firmly part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad, Dortmund’s “forward-thinking” midfielder is a “phenomenal talent”, said Danny Murphy in The Mail on Sunday.

6. Phil Foden: €124m (£105.9m)

Phil Foden of Manchester City

(Image credit: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Images)

Forward, age 22 – Manchester City and England

Phil Foden, who starred in Man City’s Premier League triumph, is the “early favourite” to win the men’s PFA Young Player of the Year award, said the Daily Mail. Nicknamed the “Stockport Iniesta”, the 22-year-old won the Fifa Under-17 World Cup with England in 2017 and is a four-time Premier League title winner with City.

7. Frenkie de Jong: €112.5m (£96.1m)

Frenkie de Jong of FC Barcelona

(Image credit: Steve Christo/Corbis via Getty Images)

Midfielder, age 25 – FC Barcelona and Netherlands

After coming through the ranks with Dutch side Ajax, Frenkie de Jong signed for Barcelona in 2019. The Netherlands midfielder is now being linked with a move to England. He remains Manchester United’s “primary transfer target” this summer, said the Daily Express.

8. Luis Díaz: €110m (£94m)

Luis Diaz of Liverpool

(Image credit: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Forward, age 25 – Liverpool and Colombia

Luis Diaz has made an “instant impact” with Liverpool following his move from Porto in January, said 90min.com. The Colombian forward has so far scored six goals in 26 appearances for the Anfield club.

9. Rúben Dias: €109.6m (£93.6m)

Ruben Dias of Manchester City

(Image credit: Tom Flathers/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

Defender, age 25 – Manchester City and Portugal

Portuguese centre-half Rúben Dias joined Manchester City from Benfica for a then club-record £64.3m in September 2020 – it was a fee that has been “justified”, said the Daily Mail. The “commanding defender” has won successive Premier League titles at the Etihad Stadium.

10. Ferran Torres: €109.5m (£93.5m)

Ferran Torres of FC Barcelona

(Image credit: Manuel Queimadelos/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Forward, age 22 – FC Barcelona and Spain

In December 2021, Ferran Torres returned to Spain after signing for Barcelona from Manchester City. The Spanish forward helped “rejuvenate” Barca’s “flagging season” after Christmas, said Goal.com.

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Mike Starling is the digital features editor at The Week, where he writes content and edits the Arts & Life and Sport website sections and the Food & Drink and Travel newsletters. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.