Highest market value: 90 million
© Imago
Saúl ñíguez has been part of the professional squad of Atlético Madrid and thus one of the most club-loving players in Europe’s top leagues since July 1, 2013. After a total of 17 years with the Rojiblancos, in which he went through the youth teams from the U17, the former Spanish international is about to move to trabzonspor. As the Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu reports, ñíguez and the first division from the northeast of Türkiye have concluded a four -year contract.
The basic prerequisite for the transfer is the contract termination between the professional, which was one of the most valuable midfielder in the world with a market value of 90 million euros in 2018, and Atlético. It was assumed that his club would not put any stones in his way in the event of a year of contract. The 30-year-old ñíguez has been one of the top earners for years, but no longer one of the top players in the squad of coach Diego Simeone. In 2017, the talent at the time extended its contract until 2026.
In Trabzon, he is said to earn between 3 million and 4 million euros net per season. Significantly less than the 6 million euros net in Madrid, but ñíguez has planning security. Last season he was loaned for FC Sevilla in 24 Laliga games 1,555 minutes in which he was directly involved in seven goals. It was his second loan since 2021 after an unsuccessful intermezzo near Chelsea, where it was only 23 mostly short missions. When he joined the blues, the market value was 40 million euros and subsequently sank continuously to currently EUR 3 million.
Only a few players on the list of the most club-loving players in Europe’s top 10 leagues have a higher market value than ñíguez. For example, Wolfsburg legend Maximilian Arnold with 5 million euros or Bayern Munich Manuel Neuer with EUR 4 million. The most valuable professional on this list is ñíguez teammate Koke, who has a market value of 8 million euros at the age of 33.