Lamine Yamal has been rated as the most valuable footballer in the world - worth a staggering £309.4million

The transfer window is already alive and kicking, with teams starting to sound out targets and their planning well underway for the summer.

On Friday, Andy Robertson’s move to Tottenham from Liverpool on a free transfer was confirmed, and more high-profile names will surely follow suit this summer.

Ahead of those potential moves, a list of the world’s most expensive footballers has been revealed, with some stars demanding potential future suitors splash out hundreds of millions of pounds.

The list is compiled by Football Observatory, which is a website that produces exclusive data and analysis on players. On this occasion, they have used a statistical model to assess the value of players based on a number of factors including age, contract, and, of course, ability.

Currently, Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal is the most valuable player in the world. If he were to leave Barca, he would cost teams a staggering £309.4million. At just 18 years old and a number of accolades behind him, that comes as no shock.

Behind Yamal is Erling Haaland of Manchester City. He is some way back in terms of value – at £196.4m. That could be due to his age – 25 – but his relentless goal scoring and contract until 2034 ensures he would cost a pretty penny.

Lamine Yamal has been rated as the most valuable footballer in the world - worth a staggering £309.4million

Lamine Yamal has been rated as the most valuable footballer in the world – worth a staggering £309.4million

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe is third and would command less than half Yamal at £143.2m

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe is third and would command less than half Yamal at £143.2m

Kylian Mbappe makes up the top three, but is valued at less than half of Yamal. The Real Madrid forward will lead France at the World Cup and hope to win his second Jules Rimet trophy – but has had a tough times of things at club level of late.

If Mbappe, 27, whose contract runs until 2029, were to leave, he would cost a side £143.2m.

In the top five are Michael Olise (£121.2m) and Morgan Rogers (£118.2m) – reports suggest Real Madrid are set to bid for the former, while the latter, who is hoping to star for England at the World Cup, has been linked to the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea in recent months.

Other big names high on the list include Desire Doue (£115.1m), Nico O’Reilly (£108m) and Jude Bellingham (£103.9m).

In terms of Premier League interest, Florian Wirtz, 12 months on from joining Liverpool for £116m, would cost £107.2m, while Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer are valued at £96.1m and £95.6m respectively.

Former Manchester United man Rasmus Hojlund, who left the Red Devils for Napoli permanently this week in a deal worth £38m, is reportedly worth the £87m United initially paid for him.

PSG’s Champions League final hero Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, 25, has a contract until 2029 and is worth a reported £87.2m.

The list is packed with players from heavyweight sides, from the likes of back-to-back European champions PSG to runners-up Arsenal.

One side perhaps a little out of place, though, is Bournemouth. Their Brazilian hot shot Rayan, who joined as Antoine Semeyo’s replacement in January, is valued at £86.7m.

Nico O'Reilly (left) and Morgan Rogers (fourth left) are the two England players worth more than Jude Bellingham (second right)

Nico O’Reilly (left) and Morgan Rogers (fourth left) are the two England players worth more than Jude Bellingham (second right)

A bit further down the list, the most expensive Manchester United player is Benjamin Sesko at £72.5m – £1.2m down on the £73.7m they paid for him last summer.

Elsewhere, another Bournemouth player in Junior Kroupi is thought to be of interest to Arsenal and Chelsea this summer. The 19-year-old, whose contract runs until 2030, would cost suitors £76.9m.

Further down than perhaps expected is Declan Rice. The Arsenal man, who has become key to both club and country with England, is valued at £65.7m, which would represent a significant loss on the £105m Arsenal forked out in 2023.

Nicolas Jackson (£60.6m), Amad Diallo (£59.5m), and Jobe Bellingham (£56.9m) are some of the significant names further down the list. 

World’s most valuable players (selected names) – by Football Observatory
Player Value (£m)
Lamine Yamal 309.4
Erling Haaland  196.4 
Kylian Mbappe  143.2 
Michael Olise  121.2 
Morgan Rogers  118.2 
Desire Doue  115.1 
Nico O’Reilly  108 
Jude Bellingham  103.9 
Florian Wirtz  107.2 
Bukayo Saka  96.1 
Cole Palmer  95.6 
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 87.2
Rasmus Hojlund  87 
Declan Rice  65.7 
Jobe Bellingham 56.9

Which England star has 7 GCSEs? Who has lost half of his finger? Test your knowledge of Thomas Tuchel’s squad with our exclusive quiz HERE

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