Best Left-Backs in the Ligue 1 (Jun 2026)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: Ligue 1 Left-Backs 2022-23
Our database tracked 34 Ligue 1 Left-Backs in the 2022-23 season, representing 21 clubs with a combined market value of €226.8M. The average market value for Ligue 1 Left-Backs was €6.7M, with the average age at 27.3 years old.
The most valuable left-back in the Ligue 1 was Nuno Mendes, worth €75.0M and played for Paris Saint-Germain at 23 years old. The top 5 Left-Backs averaged €26.4M in market value, including Lucas Hernández and Caio Henrique.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked left-back was Nhoa Sangui (20 years, Paris FC, €5.0M), while the oldest was Florent Hanin (36 years, Angers SCO, €250K). Research shows Left-Backs typically peak at age 27.
Historical analysis showed 11 Left-Backs (32%) 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 Left-Backs remained actively developing with emerging talent in the 2022-23 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 Left-Backs. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 21 clubs with €226.8M combined value.
Age Distribution: Ligue 1 Left-Backs
The Ligue 1 LB market shows 5 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 30+ bracket (11 players, 32% of market). The 21-23 age group holds the most value at €89.1M, averaging €17.8M per player.
Top Left-Backs by Age Bracket
U21 Years (2 players)
21-23 Years (5 players)
24-26 Years (6 players)
27-29 Years (10 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 4 Left-Backs (12% of players) control €122.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with elite (€50m+) tier representing 3% of the Ligue 1 LB pool.
Elite (€50M+)
High (€15-30M)
Mid (€5-15M)
Club Distribution: Ligue 1 Left-Backs
Among 21 Ligue 1 clubs, Paris Saint-Germain leads with 2 Left-Backs worth €95.0M (averaging €47.5M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 59% of tracked Left-Backs.
Paris Saint-Germain (2 Left-Backs)
AS Monaco (2 Left-Backs)
Olympique Marseille (2 Left-Backs)
OGC Nice (2 Left-Backs)
Player Rankings
Ranked by APE Strength Score. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.
Nuno Mendes
Paris Saint-Germain • 23 years old
€64.9M
€75.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €83.6M
94.2
Lucas Hernández
Paris Saint-Germain • 30 years old
€25.8M
€20.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €16.6M
73.2
Caio Henrique
AS Monaco • 28 years old
€19.4M
€15.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €13.1M
69.2
Ben Chilwell
RC Strasbourg Alsace • 29 years old
€15.5M
€12.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €9.9M
66.6
Emerson
Olympique Marseille • 31 years old
€12.9M
€10.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €8.3M
60.9
Melvin Bard
OGC Nice • 25 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €9.8M
60.9
Kassoum Ouattara
AS Monaco • 21 years old
€7.8M
€9.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €9.9M
59.3
Bradley Locko
Stade Brestois 29 • 24 years old
€6.1M
€7.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €7.2M
56.9
Romain Perraud
LOSC Lille • 28 years old
€9.0M
€7.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €6.1M
56.2
Abner
Olympique Lyon • 26 years old
€6.1M
€7.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €7.2M
55.9
Nicolás Tagliafico
Olympique Lyon • 33 years old
€6.5M
€5.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €4.4M
52.5
Matthieu Udol
RC Lens • 30 years old
€6.5M
€5.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €4.1M
52.2
Nhoa Sangui
Paris FC • 20 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.7M
51.3
Jacques Ekomié
Angers SCO • 22 years old
€3.5M
€4.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €4.2M
49.8
Darlin Yongwa
FC Lorient • 25 years old
€3.5M
€4.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.9M
49.4
Gideon Mensah
AJ Auxerre • 27 years old
€3.7M
€3.5M
-5.4%
Expected: €3.1M
47.4
Jhoanner Chávez
RC Lens • 24 years old
€2.6M
€3.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.1M
42.7
Ulisses Garcia
Olympique Marseille • 30 years old
€3.9M
€3.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €2.5M
42.2
Calvin Verdonk
LOSC Lille • 29 years old
€3.9M
€3.0M
-22.6%
Expected: €2.5M
42.1
Nicolas Cozza
FC Nantes • 27 years old
€3.2M
€3.0M
-5.4%
Expected: €2.6M
41.9
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 Nuno Mendes at 23 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 18.75×. That means Nuno Mendes is valued 18.75× higher than the median player in the 21-23 age bracket—representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is AS Monaco's Kassoum Ouattara, who is 21 years old, with a 2.25× PPVE. Third is Melvin Bard of OGC Nice, who is 25 years old with a 1.43× 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 18.75× means the player is worth 1775% 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 | Nuno Mendes Paris Saint-Germain | 23 | 21-23 | €75.0M | €4.0M | 18.75× |
| #2 | Kassoum Ouattara AS Monaco | 21 | 21-23 | €9.0M | €4.0M | 2.25× |
| #3 | Melvin Bard OGC Nice | 25 | 24-26 | €10.0M | €7.0M | 1.43× |
| #4 | Bradley Locko Stade Brestois 29 | 24 | 24-26 | €7.0M | €7.0M | 1.00× |
| #5 | Nhoa Sangui Paris FC | 20 | U21 | €5.0M | €5.0M | 1.00× |
| #6 | Jacques Ekomié Angers SCO | 22 | 21-23 | €4.0M | €4.0M | 1.00× |
| #7 | Darlin Yongwa FC Lorient | 25 | 24-26 | €4.0M | €7.0M | 0.57× |
| #8 | Jhoanner Chávez RC Lens | 24 | 24-26 | €3.0M | €7.0M | 0.43× |
| #9 | Mahamadou Nagida Stade Rennais FC | 20 | U21 | €1.5M | €5.0M | 0.30× |
| #10 | Fredrik Oppegård AJ Auxerre | 23 | 21-23 | €600K | €4.0M | 0.15× |
| #11 | Achraf Laâziri Olympique Lyon | 22 | 21-23 | €500K | €4.0M | 0.13× |
Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Recovery potential from current value to forecasted peak. Shows how much upside remains for players approaching their prime.
Understanding Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Stade Rennais FC's Mahamadou Nagida at 20 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +35%. That means Mahamadou Nagida is projected to appreciate 35% as they reach their peak age in 6 years—representing significant upside before entering their prime.
In second is Paris FC's Nhoa Sangui, who is 20 years old, with a +35% RPP (6 years to peak). Third is Kassoum Ouattara of AS Monaco, who is 21 years old with a +30% RPP (5 years to peak).
How RPP is calculated: RPP compares a player's current market value to their forecasted peak value, calculating the percentage appreciation potential. A 35% RPP means the player is expected to gain 35% value as they enter their prime—making them excellent growth investments.
Recovery Potential by Player
| Rank | Player | Age | Years to Peak | Current | Peak Forecast | RPP % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Mahamadou Nagida Stade Rennais FC | 20 | 6 | €1.5M | €2.3M | +35% |
| #2 | Nhoa Sangui Paris FC | 20 | 6 | €5.0M | €7.7M | +35% |
| #3 | Kassoum Ouattara AS Monaco | 21 | 5 | €9.0M | €12.9M | +30% |
| #4 | Achraf Laâziri Olympique Lyon | 22 | 4 | €500K | €668K | +25% |
| #5 | Jacques Ekomié Angers SCO | 22 | 4 | €4.0M | €5.3M | +25% |
| #6 | Fredrik Oppegård AJ Auxerre | 23 | 3 | €600K | €746K | +20% |
| #7 | Nuno Mendes Paris Saint-Germain | 23 | 3 | €75.0M | €93.2M | +20% |
| #8 | Bradley Locko Stade Brestois 29 | 24 | 2 | €7.0M | €8.1M | +14% |
| #9 | Jhoanner Chávez RC Lens | 24 | 2 | €3.0M | €3.5M | +14% |
| #10 | Melvin Bard OGC Nice | 25 | 1 | €10.0M | €10.8M | +7% |
| #11 | Darlin Yongwa FC Lorient | 25 | 1 | €4.0M | €4.3M | +7% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Stade Rennais FC's Mahamadou Nagida has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 46.3. That means Mahamadou Nagida has 15% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is Paris FC's Nhoa Sangui with a 46.3 RAU (15% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Nuno Mendes of Paris Saint-Germain with a 42.8 RAU (11% upside, 0% uncertainty).
How RAU is calculated: RAU divides upside potential by forecast uncertainty (RAU = Upside % ÷ Uncertainty %). A RAU of 46.3 means the upside is 46.3× 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 | Mahamadou Nagida Stade Rennais FC | €1.7M | €1.5M-2.0M | +15% | 46.3 |
| #2 | Nhoa Sangui Paris FC | €5.7M | €4.9M-6.5M | +15% | 46.3 |
| #3 | Nuno Mendes Paris Saint-Germain | €83.6M | €73.5M-93.6M | +11% | 42.8 |
| #4 | Kassoum Ouattara AS Monaco | €9.9M | €8.6M-11.3M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #5 | Fredrik Oppegård AJ Auxerre | €642K | €565K-719K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #6 | Achraf Laâziri Olympique Lyon | €529K | €466K-593K | +6% | 23.0 |
| #7 | Jacques Ekomié Angers SCO | €4.2M | €3.7M-4.7M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #8 | Aïssa Boudechicha ES Sétif | €154K | €136K-173K | +3% | 12.0 |
| #9 | Abner Olympique Lyon | €7.2M | €6.3M-8.1M | +3% | 12.0 |
| #10 | Bradley Locko Stade Brestois 29 | €7.2M | €6.3M-8.0M | +2% | 9.8 |
| #11 | Jhoanner Chávez RC Lens | €3.1M | €2.7M-3.4M | +2% | 9.8 |
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: left-back 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)
AJ Auxerre's Fredrik Oppegård in the 21-23 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +24.6%. That means Nuno Mendes captures 39.3% of total market value while representing only 14.7% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is Paris Saint-Germain's Nuno Mendes with a +24.6% ASC (39.3% value share vs 14.7% player share in 21-23 bracket). Third is Achraf Laâziri of Olympique Lyon with a +24.6% ASC (39.3% value vs 14.7% players in 21-23 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +24.6% ASC means the player captures 24.6% 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 | Fredrik Oppegård AJ Auxerre | 21-23 | 39.3% | 14.7% | +24.6% |
| #2 | Nuno Mendes Paris Saint-Germain | 21-23 | 39.3% | 14.7% | +24.6% |
| #3 | Achraf Laâziri Olympique Lyon | 21-23 | 39.3% | 14.7% | +24.6% |
| #4 | Kassoum Ouattara AS Monaco | 21-23 | 39.3% | 14.7% | +24.6% |
| #5 | Jacques Ekomié Angers SCO | 21-23 | 39.3% | 14.7% | +24.6% |
| #6 | Florent Hanin Angers SCO | 30+ | 22.6% | 32.4% | -9.8% |
| #7 | Nicolás Tagliafico Olympique Lyon | 30+ | 22.6% | 32.4% | -9.8% |
| #8 | Arthur Masuaku RC Lens | 30+ | 22.6% | 32.4% | -9.8% |
| #9 | Emerson Olympique Marseille | 30+ | 22.6% | 32.4% | -9.8% |
| #10 | Ulisses Garcia Olympique Marseille | 30+ | 22.6% | 32.4% | -9.8% |
| #11 | Ali Abdi OGC Nice | 30+ | 22.6% | 32.4% | -9.8% |
| #12 | Ayman Ben Mohamed US Monastir | 30+ | 22.6% | 32.4% | -9.8% |
| #13 | Lucas Hernández Paris Saint-Germain | 30+ | 22.6% | 32.4% | -9.8% |
| #14 | Deiver Machado FC Nantes | 30+ | 22.6% | 32.4% | -9.8% |
| #15 | Matthieu Udol RC Lens | 30+ | 22.6% | 32.4% | -9.8% |
| #16 | Ilyes Chetti USM Alger | 30+ | 22.6% | 32.4% | -9.8% |
| #17 | Calvin Verdonk LOSC Lille | 27-29 | 21.6% | 29.4% | -7.9% |
| #18 | Fodé Ballo-Touré FC Metz | 27-29 | 21.6% | 29.4% | -7.9% |
| #19 | Ben Chilwell RC Strasbourg Alsace | 27-29 | 21.6% | 29.4% | -7.9% |
| #20 | Romain Perraud LOSC Lille | 27-29 | 21.6% | 29.4% | -7.9% |
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: 0 immediate targets, 7 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 13 at peak.
BUY NOW - High Upside
No players in this category
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 €1.8M. 0 undervalued, 0 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ilyes Chetti USM Alger | €150K | €3.0M | -1.04 | Good Value |
Florent Hanin Angers SCO | €250K | €3.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Ayman Ben Mohamed US Monastir | €250K | €3.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Romain Perraud LOSC Lille | €7.0M | €3.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Aïssa Boudechicha ES Sétif | €150K | €3.0M | -0.74 | Good Value |
Naoufel Khacef CR Belouizdad | €600K | €3.0M | -0.70 | Good Value |
Fodé Ballo-Touré FC Metz | €1.0M | €3.0M | -0.50 | Fair Value |
Yanis Zouaoui Le Havre AC | €1.8M | €3.0M | -0.10 | Fair Value |
Achraf Laâziri Olympique Lyon | €500K | €3.0M | -0.03 | Fair Value |
Mahamadou Nagida Stade Rennais FC | €1.5M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Nicolás Tagliafico Olympique Lyon | €5.0M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Arthur Masuaku RC Lens | €2.5M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Ali Abdi OGC Nice | €2.5M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Lucas Hernández Paris Saint-Germain | €20.0M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Ben Chilwell RC Strasbourg Alsace | €12.0M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Deiver Machado FC Nantes | €2.5M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Thibault De Smet Paris FC | €2.0M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Matthieu Udol RC Lens | €5.0M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Caio Henrique AS Monaco | €15.0M | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Fredrik Oppegård AJ Auxerre | €600K | €3.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |