The 50 most valuable teenagers in world football: Garnacho, Gavi, Lavia…

Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United during the Carabao Cup match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at the City Ground, Nottingham on Wednesday 25th January 2023.

Barcelona, Manchester United, Arsenal and Leeds United starlets are among the most highly-valued teenagers in world football.

England international Jude Bellingham, who has recently completed a €103million transfer to Real Madrid, was previously the most valuable teenager in football – but he turned 20 in the summer.

That leaves Barcelona academy graduate Gavi rated as the most valuable teenager in the sport. Last season the 19-year-old midfielder played a key role in the La Liga title won under Xavi. He signed a new contract with a €1billion release clause that ties down his future at the Camp Nou until 2026.

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Gavi won Tuttosport’s prestigious Golden Boy award last year. The Spain international doesn’t turn 20 until next August but already has almost 100 appearances for Barcelona’s first team.

Given that experience, and the fact that he’s locked in at Barcelona on a long-term deal, it ought to be no surprise that his transfer valuation is almost double that of any other teenager in football.

His Barcelona team-mate Alejandro Balde is the second-most highly-valued teenager. The 19-year-old also came up through Barcelona’s fabled La Masia academy and has already established his place as Jordi Alba’s long-term successor at left-back.

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Balde’s current deal expires next summer but according to reports, there’s an agreement in place to extend his contract until 2027.

Making up the rest of the top-end of the list are Benfica’s highly-rated 19-year-old centre-back Antonio Silva, Atalanta’s 19-year-old defender Giorgio Scalvini and Chelsea’s summer signing Romeo Lavia.

Other names that catch the eye are Brighton’s Republic of Ireland international striker Evan Ferguson, Manchester United prodigy Alejandro Garnacho, Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal and Brighton’s breakthrough star Julio Enciso.

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We’ve taken the valuations from transfer specialists Transfermarkt.

It is worth taking some of their figures with a pinch of salt, as some look a little on the low side – for example Palmeiras’ 16-year-old forward Endrick is only valued at €25million, despite already having put pen to paper on a deal worth up to €70million with Real Madrid. It’s also worth noting that Brighton reportedly value Ferguson at over three times his transfer value listed here.

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