Liverpool FC winger Raheem Sterling is the most valuable young player in Europe, ahead of PSG centreback Marquinhos and Manchester United’s Memphis Depay in third, according to a new study.
The Soccerex 20 U21 Report ranks the top 20 players in Europe aged 20 or younger as of January 1, 2015. The rankings are compiled using the Football Value Index, a player valuation methodology which takes into account various metrics including age, position, minutes played and technical quality to rank the players.
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Liverpool FC winger Raheem Sterling, who is subject of a failed A?40m bid from Manchester City, has been given the highest value of A?35m by the Soccerex 20 Football Value Index.
Sterling is around A?6.7m more valuable than his nearest competitor, Paris Saint-Germaina s Brazilian defender Marquinhos, while Manchester Uniteda s new signing Memphis Depay is third with a value of A?23.9m a despite Manchester United just purchasing the player for a A?32m fee.
In total, there are nine player from the English Premier League in the top 20. Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw made the top ten by sneaking in at the ninth place.
While Manchester United paid A?30million to acquire Luke Shaw’s services from Southampton, last summer, the study values the 19-year-old left back at A?18m after his first season at Old Trafford.
Chlesea FC defender Kurt Zouma narrowly missed out on the top ten with a 11th place finish at a value of A?16.2m having broken into Chelsea FC first team last season. The 20-year-old French defender impressed for the champions and earned his first France cap in a friendly against Denmark in March.
The other Premier League players in the top 20 are Everton’s John Stones at 16th and Arsenal FC defender Calum Chambers at 19th place.
The author of the study Esteve Calzada says the English Football Association’s rule of Premier League clubs should have eight home-grown players in their squads makes English players more expensive.
England’s total of four clubs having their players in the list is more than any other nation.
“That shows the strength of the competition,” Calzada said.
“We are used to seeing high-value domestic-only transfers in the UK. This is just another way to prove that.”