Most valuable players without a club title: RB Leipzig duo, Milan quartet & Grealish

Comparison of top 5 leagues plus cups

What do Jack Grealish (26), Franck Kessié (25) and André Silva (26) have in common? They are among the most valuable players without club titles in the top 5 leagues, national and international cups. But all three have the chance to change that at the weekend. While Grealish is set to win the Premier League with Manchester City after his €117.5million move last summer, Kessié has good prospects of lifting the Serie A title with AC Milan and Silva is struggling with RB Leipzig victory in the DFB Cup. Transfermarkt takes a look at other pros who have so far been denied lifting a major trophy.

A reading of our database revealed: 31 players with a market value of at least 40 million euros are still waiting for their first club title in the competitions of Europe’s elite leagues. The only player to break the 100 million euro mark is Harry Kane. The Tottenham Hotspur attacker has come close on a number of occasions – in the 2019 Champions League final and in the 2015 and 2021 EFL Cup finals – but his side have always been at a disadvantage close to the finish line. “In my opinion, he doesn’t need titles to show that he’s one of the best strikers,” his former coach Mauricio Pochettino once said of the 28-year-old, who is fifth in the all-time Premier League goalscorers list.

Grealish, on the other hand, will end his trophy-less spell after nine years in professional football if Man City don’t slip up against ex-club Aston Villa. “It’s not about me or the rivalry between clubs, it’s about the team and the club. That’s what’s on my mind,” emphasized the winger, valued at €80 million, before the duel, which was particularly special for him, but also admitted: “Of course it will be a nice event for me.”

AC Milan quartet on the verge of a first title – Silva & Olmo want a cup win

While the 26-year-old is the only professional from the “Citizens” among the 30 most valuable untitled players, four players from Milan (still) include Kessié, Rafael Leão (22), Fikayo Tomori (24) and Sandro Tonali (22). However, should the Rossoneri win or draw their last-day game at US Sassuolo on Sunday, the quartet will be able to celebrate their first Scudetto. If Milan lose, coach Stefano Pioli’s team must hope Inter don’t beat Genoa Sampdoria.

In addition to the four, AS Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini (25) is still aiming for a triumph in the Europa Conference League, where the Italian capital club meets Feyenoord Rotterdam on May 25. With a market value of 45 million euros, Pellegrini is one of the 15 most valuable untitled.

Five players from the Bundesliga found themselves at the top of this list. Florian Wirtz (19), Edmond Tapsoba (23) and Patrik Schick (26) from Bayer Leverkusen, who are injured on the cruciate ligament, have to be patient at least until next season, Leipzig’s Silva and Dani Olmo (24) could celebrate on Saturday evening if a win against SC Freiburg should jump out.

Most valuable players without a Champions League title: Reals Vinicius Junior (still) in the top 3

Vinicius Junior, meanwhile, has already clinched a few trophies, recently crowned LaLiga champions for the second time with Real Madrid and twice the Spanish Super Cup. The Brazilian still lacks the Champions League, which makes him the third most valuable player to do so together with Kane. However, the 21-year-old has the chance to remedy this flaw in the final on May 28 against Liverpool – in contrast to the other 30 most valuable players without a title in the “premier class”.

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