Best Midfielders in the Ligue 1 (Oct 2025)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: Ligue 1 Midfielders 2023-24
Our database tracked 41 Ligue 1 Midfielders in the 2023-24 season, representing 18 clubs with a combined market value of €438.5M. The average market value for Ligue 1 Midfielders was €10.7M, with the average age at 25.0 years old.
The most valuable midfielder in the Ligue 1 was João Neves, worth €80.0M and played for Paris Saint-Germain at 21 years old. The top 5 Midfielders averaged €43.8M in market value, including Warren Zaïre-Emery and Fabián Ruiz.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked midfielder was Ayyoub Bouaddi (18 years, LOSC Lille, €28.0M), while the oldest was Pierrick Capelle (38 years, Angers SCO, €200K). Research shows Midfielders typically peak at age 26-27.
Historical analysis showed 23 Midfielders (56%) increased in market value over the following 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, then-current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The Ligue 1 market for Midfielders remained actively developing with emerging talent in the 2023-24 season.
💡 Use the search bar below to find specific players, or apply filters to narrow results by club, age range, or market value. Click the chart icon next to any player to view their historical value trajectory and forecast.
Explore Market Size by Position in Ligue 1
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all Ligue 1 Midfielders. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 18 clubs with €438.5M combined value.
Age Distribution: Ligue 1 Midfielders
The Ligue 1 CM market shows 5 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 21-23 bracket (12 players, 29% of market). The 21-23 age group holds the most value at €148.0M, averaging €12.3M per player.
Top Midfielders by Age Bracket
U21 Years (7 players)
21-23 Years (12 players)
24-26 Years (4 players)
27-29 Years (10 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 5 Midfielders (12% of players) control €219.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with elite (€50m+) tier representing 5% of the Ligue 1 CM pool.
Elite (€50M+)
Premium (€30-50M)
High (€15-30M)
Club Distribution: Ligue 1 Midfielders
Among 18 Ligue 1 clubs, Paris Saint-Germain leads with 4 Midfielders worth €190.0M (averaging €47.5M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 68% of tracked Midfielders.
Paris Saint-Germain (4 Midfielders)
Stade Rennais FC (5 Midfielders)
LOSC Lille (3 Midfielders)
AS Monaco (3 Midfielders)
Player Rankings
Ranked by APE Strength Score. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.
João Neves
Paris Saint-Germain • 21 years old
€69.2M
€80.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €105.1M
91.2
Warren Zaïre-Emery
Paris Saint-Germain • 19 years old
€47.6M
€55.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €78.0M
84.6
Fabián Ruiz
Paris Saint-Germain • 29 years old
€40.0M
€40.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €39.5M
82.8
Matt O'Riley
Olympique Marseille • 24 years old
€19.0M
€22.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €24.4M
73.8
Lamine Camara
AS Monaco • 21 years old
€19.0M
€22.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €27.8M
71.6
Ayyoub Bouaddi
LOSC Lille • 18 years old
€24.2M
€28.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €39.6M
71.4
Hicham Boudaoui
OGC Nice • 26 years old
€13.0M
€15.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €15.4M
69.0
Senny Mayulu
Paris Saint-Germain • 19 years old
€13.0M
€15.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €20.4M
64.9
Valentín Barco
RC Strasbourg Alsace • 21 years old
€10.4M
€12.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €15.1M
64.1
Corentin Tolisso
Olympique Lyon • 31 years old
€12.0M
€12.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €11.4M
62.7
Mahdi Camara
Stade Rennais FC • 27 years old
€9.0M
€9.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €8.5M
58.4
Seko Fofana
Stade Rennais FC • 30 years old
€10.0M
€10.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €9.5M
57.5
Valentin Rongier
Stade Rennais FC • 30 years old
€9.0M
€9.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €8.5M
56.2
Mathis Amougou
RC Strasbourg Alsace • 19 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €13.6M
56.1
Djaoui Cissé
Stade Rennais FC • 21 years old
€6.9M
€8.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €10.1M
55.4
Kévin Danois
AJ Auxerre • 21 years old
€6.9M
€8.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €10.1M
55.4
Tanguy Ndombélé
OGC Nice • 28 years old
€7.0M
€7.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €6.6M
54.5
Mamadou Sangaré
RC Lens • 23 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €7.0M
54.0
Cristian Cásseres Jr.
FC Toulouse • 25 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.4M
54.0
Hugo Magnetti
Stade Brestois 29 • 27 years old
€6.0M
€6.0M
+0.0%
Expected: €5.7M
53.3
Scout Tools
Advanced analytics for scouting and recruitment decisions. Each tool provides unique insights into player value, potential, and market dynamics.
Pre-Peak Value Efficiency (PPVE)
Identifies pre-peak players offering exceptional value relative to their age bracket. Higher PPVE = better value.
Understanding Pre-Peak Value Efficiency (PPVE)
Paris Saint-Germain's João Neves at 21 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 13.33×. That means João Neves is valued 13.33× higher than the median player in the 21-23 age bracket—representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is Paris Saint-Germain's Warren Zaïre-Emery, who is 19 years old, with a 5.50× PPVE. Third is Matt O'Riley of Olympique Marseille, who is 24 years old with a 3.67× PPVE.
How PPVE is calculated: PPVE compares a player's current market value to the median value of all players in their age bracket. A PPVE of 13.33× means the player is worth 1233% more than typical players their age—making them high-value targets before they reach peak value.
PPVE by Age Bracket
| Rank | Player | Age | Bracket | Current Value | Bracket Median | PPVE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | João Neves Paris Saint-Germain | 21 | 21-23 | €80.0M | €6.0M | 13.33× |
| #2 | Warren Zaïre-Emery Paris Saint-Germain | 19 | U21 | €55.0M | €10.0M | 5.50× |
| #3 | Matt O'Riley Olympique Marseille | 24 | 24-26 | €22.0M | €6.0M | 3.67× |
| #4 | Lamine Camara AS Monaco | 21 | 21-23 | €22.0M | €6.0M | 3.67× |
| #5 | Ayyoub Bouaddi LOSC Lille | 18 | U21 | €28.0M | €10.0M | 2.80× |
| #6 | Valentín Barco RC Strasbourg Alsace | 21 | 21-23 | €12.0M | €6.0M | 2.00× |
| #7 | Senny Mayulu Paris Saint-Germain | 19 | U21 | €15.0M | €10.0M | 1.50× |
| #8 | Kévin Danois AJ Auxerre | 21 | 21-23 | €8.0M | €6.0M | 1.33× |
| #9 | Djaoui Cissé Stade Rennais FC | 21 | 21-23 | €8.0M | €6.0M | 1.33× |
| #10 | Mathis Amougou RC Strasbourg Alsace | 19 | U21 | €10.0M | €10.0M | 1.00× |
| #11 | Cristian Cásseres Jr. FC Toulouse | 25 | 24-26 | €6.0M | €6.0M | 1.00× |
| #12 | Mamadou Sangaré RC Lens | 23 | 21-23 | €6.0M | €6.0M | 1.00× |
| #13 | Bilal Nadir Olympique Marseille | 21 | 21-23 | €5.0M | €6.0M | 0.83× |
| #14 | Yassine Kechta Le Havre AC | 23 | 21-23 | €5.0M | €6.0M | 0.83× |
| #15 | Arthur Avom FC Lorient | 20 | U21 | €5.0M | €10.0M | 0.50× |
| #16 | Ethan Mbappé LOSC Lille | 18 | U21 | €5.0M | €10.0M | 0.50× |
| #17 | Abu Francis FC Toulouse | 24 | 24-26 | €1.8M | €6.0M | 0.30× |
| #18 | Yassin Belkhdim Angers SCO | 23 | 21-23 | €1.0M | €6.0M | 0.17× |
| #19 | Louis Mouton Angers SCO | 23 | 21-23 | €700K | €6.0M | 0.12× |
| #20 | Mamadou Coulibaly AS Monaco | 21 | 21-23 | €200K | €6.0M | 0.03× |
Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Recovery potential from current value to forecasted peak. Shows how much upside remains for players approaching their prime.
No RPP data available (requires forecast values in database)
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Paris Saint-Germain's Warren Zaïre-Emery has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 106.9. That means Warren Zaïre-Emery has 42% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is LOSC Lille's Ethan Mbappé with a 105.9 RAU (41% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Ayyoub Bouaddi of LOSC Lille with a 105.9 RAU (41% upside, 0% uncertainty).
How RAU is calculated: RAU divides upside potential by forecast uncertainty (RAU = Upside % ÷ Uncertainty %). A RAU of 106.9 means the upside is 106.9× greater than the uncertainty—making it a high-confidence growth opportunity. Target RAU ≥2.0 for balanced risk-reward.
Risk-Adjusted Upside by Player
| Rank | Player | Expected | Range | Upside % | RAU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Warren Zaïre-Emery Paris Saint-Germain | €78.0M | €67.2M-88.8M | +42% | 106.9 |
| #2 | Ethan Mbappé LOSC Lille | €7.1M | €6.1M-8.0M | +41% | 105.9 |
| #3 | Ayyoub Bouaddi LOSC Lille | €39.6M | €34.1M-45.0M | +41% | 105.9 |
| #4 | Mathis Amougou RC Strasbourg Alsace | €13.6M | €11.7M-15.5M | +36% | 96.4 |
| #5 | Senny Mayulu Paris Saint-Germain | €20.4M | €17.6M-23.3M | +36% | 96.4 |
| #6 | João Neves Paris Saint-Germain | €105.1M | €90.6M-119.6M | +31% | 86.4 |
| #7 | Arthur Avom FC Lorient | €6.6M | €5.7M-7.5M | +31% | 86.2 |
| #8 | Dehmaine Tabibou FC Nantes | €262K | €226K-299K | +31% | 86.2 |
| #9 | Lamine Camara AS Monaco | €27.8M | €23.9M-31.6M | +26% | 75.2 |
| #10 | Simon Ebonog Le Havre AC | €189K | €163K-215K | +26% | 75.2 |
| #11 | Kévin Danois AJ Auxerre | €10.1M | €8.7M-11.5M | +26% | 75.2 |
| #12 | Djaoui Cissé Stade Rennais FC | €10.1M | €8.7M-11.5M | +26% | 75.2 |
| #13 | Mamadou Coulibaly AS Monaco | €252K | €218K-287K | +26% | 75.2 |
| #14 | Bilal Nadir Olympique Marseille | €6.3M | €5.4M-7.2M | +26% | 75.2 |
| #15 | Valentín Barco RC Strasbourg Alsace | €15.1M | €13.1M-17.2M | +26% | 75.2 |
| #16 | Yassine Kechta Le Havre AC | €5.8M | €5.1M-6.5M | +16% | 57.7 |
| #17 | Louis Mouton Angers SCO | €813K | €715K-910K | +16% | 57.7 |
| #18 | Mamadou Sangaré RC Lens | €7.0M | €6.1M-7.8M | +16% | 57.7 |
| #19 | Yassin Belkhdim Angers SCO | €1.2M | €1.0M-1.3M | +16% | 57.7 |
| #20 | Abu Francis FC Toulouse | €2.0M | €1.8M-2.2M | +11% | 41.4 |
Roster Pressure Index (RPI)
Squad depth pressure based on Z-score distribution. Negative RPI = thin depth, positive = deep roster.
What This Shows
Z-Score explained: Measures how many standard deviations a player's strength is from the position average. Z-Score = 0 means average, +1.0 is one standard deviation above average, -1.0 is below average.
How to use: RPI < -1.0 indicates critical depth shortage. These positions need immediate reinforcement. RPI > +1.0 suggests strong depth, allowing selective, high-value additions only.
Current market: midfielder position shows strong depth (avg Z-score: 0.00). RPI: 0.00.
Position Depth Analysis
Highest Z-Scores
Lowest Z-Scores
Age-Share Concentration (ASC)
Identifies players capturing disproportionate value relative to age group representation. Positive ASC = value concentration.
Understanding Age-Share Concentration (ASC)
FC Nantes's Dehmaine Tabibou in the U21 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +9.9%. That means Warren Zaïre-Emery captures 27.0% of total market value while representing only 17.1% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is RC Strasbourg Alsace's Mathis Amougou with a +9.9% ASC (27.0% value share vs 17.1% player share in U21 bracket). Third is Arthur Avom of FC Lorient with a +9.9% ASC (27.0% value vs 17.1% players in U21 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +9.9% ASC means the player captures 9.9% more market value than their numerical representation—indicating marquee status. ASC > +15% = elite dominance, ASC < -15% = potential value targets.
Value Concentration by Player
| Rank | Player | Age Bracket | Value Share | Player Share | ASC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dehmaine Tabibou FC Nantes | U21 | 27.0% | 17.1% | +9.9% |
| #2 | Mathis Amougou RC Strasbourg Alsace | U21 | 27.0% | 17.1% | +9.9% |
| #3 | Arthur Avom FC Lorient | U21 | 27.0% | 17.1% | +9.9% |
| #4 | Ayyoub Bouaddi LOSC Lille | U21 | 27.0% | 17.1% | +9.9% |
| #5 | Warren Zaïre-Emery Paris Saint-Germain | U21 | 27.0% | 17.1% | +9.9% |
| #6 | Ethan Mbappé LOSC Lille | U21 | 27.0% | 17.1% | +9.9% |
| #7 | Senny Mayulu Paris Saint-Germain | U21 | 27.0% | 17.1% | +9.9% |
| #8 | Paul Pogba AS Monaco | 30+ | 11.2% | 19.5% | -8.3% |
| #9 | Haris Belkebla Angers SCO | 30+ | 11.2% | 19.5% | -8.3% |
| #10 | Morgan Sanson OGC Nice | 30+ | 11.2% | 19.5% | -8.3% |
| #11 | Seko Fofana Stade Rennais FC | 30+ | 11.2% | 19.5% | -8.3% |
| #12 | Corentin Tolisso Olympique Lyon | 30+ | 11.2% | 19.5% | -8.3% |
| #13 | Pierrick Capelle Angers SCO | 30+ | 11.2% | 19.5% | -8.3% |
| #14 | André Gomes LOSC Lille | 30+ | 11.2% | 19.5% | -8.3% |
| #15 | Valentin Rongier Stade Rennais FC | 30+ | 11.2% | 19.5% | -8.3% |
| #16 | Glen Kamara Stade Rennais FC | 27-29 | 17.9% | 24.4% | -6.5% |
| #17 | Niklas Schmidt FC Toulouse | 27-29 | 17.9% | 24.4% | -6.5% |
| #18 | Jean-Victor Makengo FC Lorient | 27-29 | 17.9% | 24.4% | -6.5% |
| #19 | Mahdi Camara Stade Rennais FC | 27-29 | 17.9% | 24.4% | -6.5% |
| #20 | Fabián Ruiz Paris Saint-Germain | 27-29 | 17.9% | 24.4% | -6.5% |
Buy-Now vs Wait-List Map
Categorizes players by age position and upside potential to guide timing of acquisition.
What This Shows
How to use: "Buy Now - High Upside" = immediate priority targets. "Watch List" = monitor for 6-12 months. "Peak" = pay premium for proven performers. "Aging" = short-term depth only.
Current market: 19 immediate targets, 3 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 9 at peak.
BUY NOW - High Upside
WATCH LIST - High Upside
No players in this category
BUY NOW - Medium Upside
PEAK Players
Price vs Peer Z-Score
IQR-based pricing analysis relative to position peers. Identifies over/undervalued players vs market.
What This Shows
How to use: Z-score < -1.5 = significantly undervalued (potential bargain). Z-score > +1.5 = premium pricing (requires strong justification). Within ±1.0 = fair market value.
Current market: Position median is €80.0M. 0 undervalued, 0 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Niklas Schmidt FC Toulouse | €1.8M | €6.0M | -1.40 | Good Value |
Pierrick Capelle Angers SCO | €200K | €6.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Vincent Marchetti Paris FC | €2.0M | €6.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Hicham Boudaoui OGC Nice | €15.0M | €6.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Bilal Nadir Olympique Marseille | €5.0M | €6.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Yassine Kechta Le Havre AC | €5.0M | €6.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Senny Mayulu Paris Saint-Germain | €15.0M | €6.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Paul Pogba AS Monaco | €5.0M | €6.0M | -0.80 | Good Value |
Morgan Sanson OGC Nice | €5.0M | €6.0M | -0.80 | Good Value |
Simon Ebonog Le Havre AC | €150K | €6.0M | -0.69 | Good Value |
Glen Kamara Stade Rennais FC | €5.0M | €6.0M | -0.67 | Good Value |
Mamadou Sangaré RC Lens | €6.0M | €6.0M | -0.67 | Good Value |
Mamadou Coulibaly AS Monaco | €200K | €6.0M | -0.62 | Good Value |
André Gomes LOSC Lille | €6.0M | €6.0M | -0.60 | Good Value |
Hugo Magnetti Stade Brestois 29 | €6.0M | €6.0M | -0.33 | Fair Value |
Dehmaine Tabibou FC Nantes | €200K | €6.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Arthur Avom FC Lorient | €5.0M | €6.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Ayyoub Bouaddi LOSC Lille | €28.0M | €6.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Haris Belkebla Angers SCO | €2.0M | €6.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Jean-Victor Makengo FC Lorient | €2.5M | €6.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |