Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/football/article/3180803/kylian-mbappe-named-worlds-most-valuable-player-transfer-price-tag
Sport/ Football

Kylian Mbappe named world’s most valuable player with transfer price tag of US$219.5m

  • The CIES Football Observatory uses such indicators as player age, performance, career progression and contract duration to arrive at a transfer value
  • The top five was rounded off by Barca youngster Pedri at US$144.4m and Borussia Dortmund’s English midfielder Jude Bellingham at US$142.9m
Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe is the most valuable soccer player in the world. Photo: dpa

Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe is the most valuable soccer player in the world, according Swiss research group CIES Football Observatory, followed by Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr and new Manchester City recruit Erling Haaland.

Mbappe, who turned down Real and signed a new three-year deal at PSG last month, topped the list with an estimated transfer value of 205.6 million euros (US$219.5 million), beating Vinicius (US$198.1 million) and Haaland (US$163.1 million).

Mbappe’s PSG teammate Neymar holds the current transfer record. The French champions paid Barcelona 222 million euros (US$237.3 million) for his signature in 2017.

Vinicius Jr (right) vies with Elche’s Helibelton Palacios during a Spanish first division league match. Photo: Xinhua
Vinicius Jr (right) vies with Elche’s Helibelton Palacios during a Spanish first division league match. Photo: Xinhua

The top five was rounded off by Barca youngster Pedri (US$144.4 million) and Borussia Dortmund’s English midfielder Jude Bellingham (US$142.9 million).

The CIES Football Observatory uses such indicators as player age, performance, career progression and contract duration to arrive at a transfer value.

The latest list was dominated by Premier League players, with 41 representatives in the top 100.

City’s Ruben Dias (US$117.1 million) had the highest transfer value for a defender while PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma (US$78.8 million) led among goalkeepers.

City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, 30, was the oldest player on the list, with a value of US$61.2 million.