League value increases by 750 million
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The Premier League received 249 new market values and increased its total value by around 750 million euros to 12.8 billion euros after a record summer. Liverpool, Newcastle, Arsenal and Co. bought for 3.59 billion euros and increased their squad values. The biggest winners and biggest losers include numerous top transfers such as Florian Wirtz, Nick Woltemade and Alexander Isak as well as other players with a Bundesliga past such as Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Hugo Ekitiké and Matheus Cunha.
For two months, Wirtz was the most expensive purchase in Premier League history with a transfer fee of 125 million euros – the ex-Leverkusen player’s performance does not yet reflect this transfer fee and so there is the first devaluation of his career. England expert Ben Littlemore explains why Wirtz fell from 140 million to 130 million euros:
“He was one of the most difficult players to evaluate in the update. The expectations are enormous, but it was clear that he would need time to adapt – and he has already shown signs of real quality. With the ‘easy to fulfill’ bonus payments, the transfer fee should be around 140 million. Since it is still very early and he is only 22 years old, a moderate devaluation seemed to us to make sense, despite a disappointing one so far Starts.”
This makes Wirtz “only” the most expensive German – the most valuable German footballer is Jamal Musiala at 140 million euros. He is now on a level with Bayern’s Michael Olise, who increased from 100 million to 130 million euros in the Bundesliga update.
Wirtz is one of seven market value losers in the Liverpool FC squad. The winners include Gravenberch (+15 to 90 million), whom Bayern gave away in 2023 for 40 million euros, ex-Leipzig player Szoboszlai (+5 to 85) and Hugo Ekitiké (+10 to 85). The latter came from Eintracht Frankfurt for 95 million euros this summer and had competition in the attack center from Alexander Isak (+20 to 140) on deadline day, for whom the Reds transferred 145 million euros to Newcastle. The bottom line is that the LFC squad value increases by 35.5 million to 1.16 billion euros.
Market values England: Woltemade biggest winner in the Premier League
Newcastle United recorded the biggest increase in squad value with a jump from 659 million to 752 million euros. In an international comparison, the Magpies have overtaken Inter Milan (694) and Manchester United (730) and are in 10th place. First place among the biggest winners of this update goes to Woltemade, who landed in the north-east of England for 75 million euros after a long transfer drama between FC Bayern and VfB Stuttgart.
Market value expert Littlemore explains the jump from 30 million to 65 million euros: “Most people would agree that Newcastle bid somewhat hastily on Woltemade when looking for an Isak replacement. Nonetheless, his market value had to get closer to the transfer fee – and since he started strongly and scored in his first three home games in the Premier League, more than one appeared Doubling justified.”
Woltemade is not yet the most valuable player in the Newcastle squad, as Sandro Tonali established himself as one of the best midfielders in the league after his long betting ban and rose from 60 million to 75 million euros. Only sixth man Bruno Guimarães is more valuable to the Magpies, confirming his market value of 80 million euros.
The biggest market value losers play for Manchester City
Phil Foden from Manchester City falls to 80 million euros for the first time since the summer of 2021. For what was once the most valuable player in England at 150 million euros, there is the fourth devaluation in a row – this time it drops by 20 million euros. “Foden’s decline in form is remarkable. The Premier League player of the 2023/24 season is not finding his old strength and is no longer a regular at Man City. He has also lost his place in the England national team, which is reflected in his market value. He remains an extremely talented player, and there is no reason why his market value curve should not rise just as steeply again,” says Littlemore.
Rodri’s market value, who will celebrate his 30th birthday next summer and is now valued at 90 million euros, has also fallen by 20 million euros – the Spaniard remains the world’s most valuable player in the age group 29 and over.
For Man City, despite the two biggest devaluations in the league, the squad value only fell by 16 million euros to 1.21 billion euros, as the new additions Tijjani Reijnders (+10 to 70) and Rayan Aït-Nouri (+5 to 40) as well as Jérémy Doku (+5 to 55) have increased.
Chelsea worth more than Barça – Caicedo cracks 100 million
In the exclusive club of clubs with a squad value of over one billion euros, Chelsea overtook FC Barcelona (1.11 billion) and rose by 60 million to 1.14 billion euros after five devaluations and ten upgrades. The biggest plus for the Blues goes to summer signing João Pedro (+15 to 65), while Moisés Caicedo reaches the 100 million mark for the first time in his career after an increase of 10 million euros. The Ecuadorian is one of 19 footballers worldwide with a nine-figure market value.
England expert Littlemore explains the upgrade: “Many see Caicedo as one of – if not the – best defensive midfielder in the league. He is the first Ecuadorian to be worth 100 million and only the second South American Premier League professional after Alexis Mac Allister. Caicedo is extremely effective against the ball, constantly wins it back and is also improving his game with the ball. To continue To rise, it must maintain this shape for a longer period of time. He is now starting to realize his full potential after the expensive move.” Chelsea bought him from Brighton in the summer of 2023 for 116 million euros – two years later, the most expensive six in football history is also currently the most valuable.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has lost his place among the five most valuable players in the world of football. For the right winger it goes from 150 million to 140 million euros, while the most valuable squad in the league is devalued slightly by 11 million to 1.32 billion euros after eight devaluations and six upgrades. “Saka has been at 150 million since May 2024, since then he suffered a serious injury and a minor injury this season. His talent is without question, but his performances were slightly weaker after his return, so a small devaluation seemed appropriate,” said Littlemore.
As a result of this market value update, 43 professionals recorded an increase of 10 million euros or more, including Manchester United’s former Herthaner Cunha (+10 to 70) and Newcastle’s German central defender Malick Thiaw (+12 to 30). In total, 163 players are going up – compared to 86 devaluations.