Best Defensive Midfielders in the Premier League (Jun 2026)

Ranked by Analytical Strength Score

Market Overview: Premier League Defensive Midfielders 2023-24

Our database tracked 46 Premier League Defensive Midfielders in the 2023-24 season, representing 24 clubs with a combined market value of £1.2B. The average market value for Premier League Defensive Midfielders was £26.1M, with the average age at 26.7 years old.

The most valuable defensive midfielder in the Premier League was Moisés Caicedo, worth £110.0M and played for Chelsea FC at 24 years old. The top 5 Defensive Midfielders averaged £85.0M in market value, including Ryan Gravenberch and Rodri.

Age distribution showed the youngest tracked defensive midfielder was Jack Hinshelwood (21 years, Brighton & Hove Albion, £22.0M), while the oldest was Idrissa Gueye (36 years, Everton FC, £1.0M). Research shows Defensive Midfielders typically peak at age 26-27.

Historical analysis showed 24 Defensive Midfielders (52%) increased in market value over the following 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, then-current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The Premier League market for Defensive Midfielders remained highly competitive with significant transfer activity 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.

Market Intelligence

Explore Market Size by Position in Premier League

Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all Premier League Defensive Midfielders. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 24 clubs with £1.2B combined value.

Players Tracked

By League

Premier League La Liga Bundesliga Serie A Ligue 1

By Position

GK CB LB RB CDM

More Positions

CM CAM LW RW ST

By Season

2025-26 2024-25 2023-24 2022-23

Age Distribution: Premier League Defensive Midfielders

The Premier League CDM market shows 4 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 24-26 bracket (14 players, 30% of market). The 24-26 age group holds the most value at £576.0M, averaging £41.1M per player.

21-23 years10 players (22%)

£261.0MAvg: £26.1M

Top player: Carlos Baleba (£60.0M)

24-26 years14 players (30%)

£576.0MAvg: £41.1M

Top player: Moisés Caicedo (£110.0M)

27-29 years11 players (24%)

£276.8MAvg: £25.2M

Top player: Rodri (£75.0M)

30+ years11 players (24%)

£87.2MAvg: £7.9M

Top player: João Palhinha (£25.0M)

Top Defensive Midfielders by Age Bracket

21-23 Years (10 players)

1. Carlos Baleba(22yo)

£60.0M

2. Adam Wharton(22yo)

£60.0M

3. Roméo Lavia(22yo)

£30.0M

4. Lesley Ugochukwu(22yo)

£25.0M

5. Jack Hinshelwood(21yo)

£22.0M

24-26 Years (14 players)

1. Moisés Caicedo(24yo)

£110.0M

2. Ryan Gravenberch(24yo)

£90.0M

3. Sandro Tonali(26yo)

£75.0M

4. Nico González(24yo)

£45.0M

5. Amadou Onana(24yo)

£42.0M

27-29 Years (11 players)

1. Rodri(29yo)

£75.0M

2. Martín Zubimendi(27yo)

£75.0M

3. Sander Berge(28yo)

£25.0M

4. Tyler Adams(27yo)

£25.0M

5. Ibrahim Sangaré(28yo)

£22.0M

30+ Years (11 players)

1. João Palhinha(30yo)

£25.0M

2. Tomáš Souček(31yo)

£12.0M

3. Granit Xhaka(33yo)

£10.0M

4. Christian Nørgaard(32yo)

£9.0M

5. Casemiro(34yo)

£8.0M

Market Value Distribution

Elite Tier Concentration

35%of market value

The top 5 Defensive Midfielders (11% of players) control £425.0M

1. Moisés Caicedo£110.0M

2. Ryan Gravenberch£90.0M

3. Rodri£75.0M

4. Sandro Tonali£75.0M

5. Martín Zubimendi£75.0M

Market Tiers

Elite (€50M+)7 players (15%)

£545.0M

Premium (€30-50M)5 players (11%)

£187.0M

High (€15-30M)17 players (37%)

£369.0M

Mid (€5-15M)11 players (24%)

£94.0M

Emerging (<€5M)6 players (13%)

£6.0M

Market structure shows distributed value with elite (€50m+) tier representing 15% of the Premier League CDM pool.

Elite (€50M+)

1. Moisés Caicedo

Chelsea FC£110.0M

2. Ryan Gravenberch

Liverpool FC£90.0M

3. Rodri

Manchester City£75.0M

4. Sandro Tonali

Newcastle United£75.0M

5. Martín Zubimendi

Arsenal FC£75.0M

Premium (€30-50M)

1. Nico González

Manchester City£45.0M

2. Amadou Onana

Aston Villa£42.0M

3. Boubacar Kamara

Aston Villa£40.0M

4. Manuel Ugarte

Manchester United£30.0M

5. Roméo Lavia

Chelsea FC£30.0M

High (€15-30M)

1. André

Wolverhampton Wanderers£28.0M

2. James Garner

Everton FC£25.0M

3. Lesley Ugochukwu

Burnley FC£25.0M

4. João Palhinha

Tottenham Hotspur£25.0M

5. Mats Wieffer

Brighton & Hove Albion£25.0M

Club Distribution: Premier League Defensive Midfielders

Among 24 Premier League clubs, Chelsea FC leads with 3 Defensive Midfielders worth £160.0M (averaging £53.3M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 57% of tracked Defensive Midfielders.

Chelsea FC

3 players • £160.0M

Manchester City

3 players • £126.0M

Brighton & Hove Albion

3 players • £107.0M

Liverpool FC

3 players • £102.0M

Aston Villa

3 players • £94.0M

Arsenal FC

2 players • £84.0M

Crystal Palace

3 players • £83.0M

Newcastle United

1 players • £75.0M

Leeds United

3 players • £49.0M

#10

Burnley FC

2 players • £47.0M

Chelsea FC (3 Defensive Midfielders)

Moisés Caicedo(24yo)

£110.0M

Roméo Lavia(22yo)

£30.0M

Dário Essugo(21yo)

£20.0M

Manchester City (3 Defensive Midfielders)

Rodri(29yo)

£75.0M

Nico González(24yo)

£45.0M

Kalvin Phillips(30yo)

£6.0M

Brighton & Hove Albion (3 Defensive Midfielders)

Carlos Baleba(22yo)

£60.0M

Mats Wieffer(26yo)

£25.0M

Jack Hinshelwood(21yo)

£22.0M

Liverpool FC (3 Defensive Midfielders)

Ryan Gravenberch(24yo)

£90.0M

Stefan Bajcetic(21yo)

£7.0M

Wataru Endo(33yo)

£5.0M

Player Rankings

Ranked by APE Strength Score. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.

Moisés Caicedo

Chelsea FC • 24 years old

£95.1M

£110.0M

+15.6%

£107.9M£137.3M

Expected: £122.6M

95.5

Ryan Gravenberch

Liverpool FC • 24 years old

£77.8M

£90.0M

+15.6%

£88.3M£112.3M

Expected: £100.3M

95.5

Rodri

Manchester City • 29 years old

£96.8M

£75.0M

-22.6%

£60.4M£76.9M

Expected: £68.7M

93.9

Sandro Tonali

Newcastle United • 26 years old

£64.9M

£75.0M

+15.6%

£67.2M£85.5M

Expected: £76.3M

93.9

Martín Zubimendi

Arsenal FC • 27 years old

£64.9M

£75.0M

+15.6%

£70.7M£90.0M

Expected: £80.4M

93.6

Carlos Baleba

Brighton & Hove Albion • 22 years old

£51.9M

£60.0M

+15.6%

£60.6M£77.1M

Expected: £68.8M

91.6

Adam Wharton

Crystal Palace • 22 years old

£51.9M

£60.0M

+15.6%

£60.6M£77.1M

Expected: £68.8M

91.6

Nico González

Manchester City • 24 years old

£38.9M

£45.0M

+15.6%

£44.1M£56.2M

Expected: £50.1M

88.9

Amadou Onana

Aston Villa • 24 years old

£36.3M

£42.0M

+15.6%

£41.2M£52.4M

Expected: £46.8M

87.9

#10

Boubacar Kamara

Aston Villa • 26 years old

£34.6M

£40.0M

+15.6%

£35.8M£45.6M

Expected: £40.7M

86.3

#11

Manuel Ugarte

Manchester United • 25 years old

£25.9M

£30.0M

+15.6%

£27.0M£34.4M

Expected: £30.7M

79.7

#12

Roméo Lavia

Chelsea FC • 22 years old

£25.9M

£30.0M

+15.6%

£29.1M£37.0M

Expected: £33.1M

79.4

#13

André

Wolverhampton Wanderers • 24 years old

£24.2M

£28.0M

+15.6%

£26.4M£33.6M

Expected: £30.0M

79.2

#14

James Garner

Everton FC • 25 years old

£21.6M

£25.0M

+15.6%

£22.5M£28.7M

Expected: £25.6M

77.3

#15

Lesley Ugochukwu

Burnley FC • 22 years old

£21.6M

£25.0M

+15.6%

£24.3M£30.9M

Expected: £27.6M

76.9

#16

João Palhinha

Tottenham Hotspur • 30 years old

£32.3M

£25.0M

-22.6%

£18.3M£23.3M

Expected: £20.8M

76.8

#17

Mats Wieffer

Brighton & Hove Albion • 26 years old

£21.6M

£25.0M

+15.6%

£21.5M£27.4M

Expected: £24.4M

76.8

#18

Sander Berge

Fulham FC • 28 years old

£26.4M

£25.0M

-5.4%

£19.4M£24.6M

Expected: £22.0M

76.5

#19

Tyler Adams

AFC Bournemouth • 27 years old

£21.6M

£25.0M

+15.6%

£22.7M£28.8M

Expected: £25.7M

76.3

#20

Florentino

Burnley FC • 26 years old

£19.0M

£22.0M

+15.6%

£18.9M£24.1M

Expected: £21.5M

75.2

Showing 1-20 of 46

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)

Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton at 22 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 2.73×. That means Carlos Baleba is valued 2.73× higher than the median player in the 21-23 age bracket—representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.

In second is Brighton & Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba, who is 22 years old, with a 2.73× PPVE. Third is Moisés Caicedo of Chelsea FC, who is 24 years old with a 2.62× 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 2.73× means the player is worth 173% more than typical players their age—making them high-value targets before they reach peak value.

PPVE by Age Bracket

Adam WhartonCrystal Palace

21-23 • 22yo2.73×

£60.0M • 173% above median

Carlos BalebaBrighton & Hove Albion

21-23 • 22yo2.73×

£60.0M • 173% above median

Moisés CaicedoChelsea FC

24-26 • 24yo2.62×

£110.0M • 162% above median

Ryan GravenberchLiverpool FC

24-26 • 24yo2.14×

£90.0M • 114% above median

Roméo LaviaChelsea FC

21-23 • 22yo1.36×

£30.0M • 36% above median

Lesley UgochukwuBurnley FC

21-23 • 22yo1.14×

£25.0M • 14% above median

Nico GonzálezManchester City

24-26 • 24yo1.07×

£45.0M • 7% above median

Amadou OnanaAston Villa

24-26 • 24yo1.00×

£42.0M • 0% above median

Jack HinshelwoodBrighton & Hove Albion

21-23 • 21yo1.00×

£22.0M • 0% above median

Dário EssugoChelsea FC

21-23 • 21yo0.91×

£20.0M • -9% above median

Soungoutou MagassaWest Ham United

21-23 • 22yo0.77×

£17.0M • -23% above median

Manuel UgarteManchester United

24-26 • 25yo0.71×

£30.0M • -29% above median

AndréWolverhampton Wanderers

24-26 • 24yo0.67×

£28.0M • -33% above median

James GarnerEverton FC

24-26 • 25yo0.60×

£25.0M • -40% above median

Lamare BogardeAston Villa

21-23 • 22yo0.55×

£12.0M • -45% above median

Rank	Player	Age	Bracket	Current Value	Bracket Median	PPVE
#1	Adam Wharton Crystal Palace	22	21-23	£60.0M	£22.0M	2.73×
#2	Carlos Baleba Brighton & Hove Albion	22	21-23	£60.0M	£22.0M	2.73×
#3	Moisés Caicedo Chelsea FC	24	24-26	£110.0M	£42.0M	2.62×
#4	Ryan Gravenberch Liverpool FC	24	24-26	£90.0M	£42.0M	2.14×
#5	Roméo Lavia Chelsea FC	22	21-23	£30.0M	£22.0M	1.36×
#6	Lesley Ugochukwu Burnley FC	22	21-23	£25.0M	£22.0M	1.14×
#7	Nico González Manchester City	24	24-26	£45.0M	£42.0M	1.07×
#8	Amadou Onana Aston Villa	24	24-26	£42.0M	£42.0M	1.00×
#9	Jack Hinshelwood Brighton & Hove Albion	21	21-23	£22.0M	£22.0M	1.00×
#10	Dário Essugo Chelsea FC	21	21-23	£20.0M	£22.0M	0.91×
#11	Soungoutou Magassa West Ham United	22	21-23	£17.0M	£22.0M	0.77×
#12	Manuel Ugarte Manchester United	25	24-26	£30.0M	£42.0M	0.71×
#13	André Wolverhampton Wanderers	24	24-26	£28.0M	£42.0M	0.67×
#14	James Garner Everton FC	25	24-26	£25.0M	£42.0M	0.60×
#15	Lamare Bogarde Aston Villa	22	21-23	£12.0M	£22.0M	0.55×
#16	Ethan Ampadu Leeds United	25	24-26	£20.0M	£42.0M	0.48×
#17	Freddie Potts West Ham United	22	21-23	£8.0M	£22.0M	0.36×
#18	Stefan Bajcetic Liverpool FC	21	21-23	£7.0M	£22.0M	0.32×

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)

Brighton & Hove Albion's Jack Hinshelwood at 21 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +35%. That means Jack Hinshelwood is projected to appreciate 35% as they reach their peak age in 5 years—representing significant upside before entering their prime.

In second is Chelsea FC's Dário Essugo, who is 21 years old, with a +35% RPP (5 years to peak). Third is Stefan Bajcetic of Liverpool FC, who is 21 years old with a +35% 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

Jack HinshelwoodBrighton & Hove Albion

5yr to peak+35%

£22.0M → £34.0M

Dário EssugoChelsea FC

5yr to peak+35%

£20.0M → £30.9M

Stefan BajceticLiverpool FC

5yr to peak+35%

£7.0M → £10.8M

Freddie PottsWest Ham United

4yr to peak+30%

£8.0M → £11.5M

Roméo LaviaChelsea FC

4yr to peak+30%

£30.0M → £43.1M

Lesley UgochukwuBurnley FC

4yr to peak+30%

£25.0M → £35.9M

Adam WhartonCrystal Palace

4yr to peak+30%

£60.0M → £86.2M

Carlos BalebaBrighton & Hove Albion

4yr to peak+30%

£60.0M → £86.2M

Soungoutou MagassaWest Ham United

4yr to peak+30%

£17.0M → £24.4M

Lamare BogardeAston Villa

4yr to peak+30%

£12.0M → £17.2M

Nico GonzálezManchester City

2yr to peak+20%

£45.0M → £55.9M

Ryan GravenberchLiverpool FC

2yr to peak+20%

£90.0M → £111.9M

Amadou OnanaAston Villa

2yr to peak+20%

£42.0M → £52.2M

Moisés CaicedoChelsea FC

2yr to peak+20%

£110.0M → £136.8M

AndréWolverhampton Wanderers

2yr to peak+20%

£28.0M → £34.8M

Rank	Player	Age	Years to Peak	Current	Peak Forecast	RPP %
#1	Jack Hinshelwood Brighton & Hove Albion	21	5	£22.0M	£34.0M	+35%
#2	Dário Essugo Chelsea FC	21	5	£20.0M	£30.9M	+35%
#3	Stefan Bajcetic Liverpool FC	21	5	£7.0M	£10.8M	+35%
#4	Freddie Potts West Ham United	22	4	£8.0M	£11.5M	+30%
#5	Roméo Lavia Chelsea FC	22	4	£30.0M	£43.1M	+30%
#6	Lesley Ugochukwu Burnley FC	22	4	£25.0M	£35.9M	+30%
#7	Adam Wharton Crystal Palace	22	4	£60.0M	£86.2M	+30%
#8	Carlos Baleba Brighton & Hove Albion	22	4	£60.0M	£86.2M	+30%
#9	Soungoutou Magassa West Ham United	22	4	£17.0M	£24.4M	+30%
#10	Lamare Bogarde Aston Villa	22	4	£12.0M	£17.2M	+30%
#11	Nico González Manchester City	24	2	£45.0M	£55.9M	+20%
#12	Ryan Gravenberch Liverpool FC	24	2	£90.0M	£111.9M	+20%
#13	Amadou Onana Aston Villa	24	2	£42.0M	£52.2M	+20%
#14	Moisés Caicedo Chelsea FC	24	2	£110.0M	£136.8M	+20%
#15	André Wolverhampton Wanderers	24	2	£28.0M	£34.8M	+20%
#16	James Garner Everton FC	25	1	£25.0M	£28.9M	+14%
#17	Ethan Ampadu Leeds United	25	1	£20.0M	£23.1M	+14%
#18	Manuel Ugarte Manchester United	25	1	£30.0M	£34.7M	+14%

Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)

Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.

Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)

Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 53.6. That means Carlos Baleba has 15% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.

In second is Brighton & Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba with a 53.6 RAU (15% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Jack Hinshelwood of Brighton & Hove Albion with a 46.3 RAU (15% upside, 0% uncertainty).

How RAU is calculated: RAU divides upside potential by forecast uncertainty (RAU = Upside % ÷ Uncertainty %). A RAU of 53.6 means the upside is 53.6× greater than the uncertainty—making it a high-confidence growth opportunity. Target RAU ≥2.0 for balanced risk-reward.

Risk-Adjusted Upside by Player

Adam WhartonCrystal Palace

↑15% / ±0%53.6

Range: £60.6M - £77.1M

Carlos BalebaBrighton & Hove Albion

↑15% / ±0%53.6

Range: £60.6M - £77.1M

Jack HinshelwoodBrighton & Hove Albion

↑15% / ±0%46.3

Range: £21.7M - £28.7M

Dário EssugoChelsea FC

↑15% / ±0%46.3

Range: £19.8M - £26.1M

Stefan BajceticLiverpool FC

↑15% / ±0%46.3

Range: £6.9M - £9.1M

Amadou OnanaAston Villa

↑11% / ±0%42.8

Range: £41.2M - £52.4M

Moisés CaicedoChelsea FC

↑11% / ±0%42.8

Range: £107.9M - £137.3M

Nico GonzálezManchester City

↑11% / ±0%42.8

Range: £44.1M - £56.2M

Ryan GravenberchLiverpool FC

↑11% / ±0%42.8

Range: £88.3M - £112.3M

Roméo LaviaChelsea FC

↑10% / ±0%38.7

Range: £29.1M - £37.0M

Lamare BogardeAston Villa

↑10% / ±0%38.7

Range: £11.6M - £14.8M

Lesley UgochukwuBurnley FC

↑10% / ±0%38.7

Range: £24.3M - £30.9M

Soungoutou MagassaWest Ham United

↑10% / ±0%38.7

Range: £16.5M - £21.0M

Freddie PottsWest Ham United

↑10% / ±0%38.7

Range: £7.8M - £9.9M

Martín ZubimendiArsenal FC

↑7% / ±0%27.8

Range: £70.7M - £90.0M

Rank	Player	Expected	Range	Upside %	RAU
#1	Adam Wharton Crystal Palace	£68.8M	£60.6M-77.1M	+15%	53.6
#2	Carlos Baleba Brighton & Hove Albion	£68.8M	£60.6M-77.1M	+15%	53.6
#3	Jack Hinshelwood Brighton & Hove Albion	£25.2M	£21.7M-28.7M	+15%	46.3
#4	Dário Essugo Chelsea FC	£22.9M	£19.8M-26.1M	+15%	46.3
#5	Stefan Bajcetic Liverpool FC	£8.0M	£6.9M-9.1M	+15%	46.3
#6	Amadou Onana Aston Villa	£46.8M	£41.2M-52.4M	+11%	42.8
#7	Moisés Caicedo Chelsea FC	£122.6M	£107.9M-137.3M	+11%	42.8
#8	Nico González Manchester City	£50.1M	£44.1M-56.2M	+11%	42.8
#9	Ryan Gravenberch Liverpool FC	£100.3M	£88.3M-112.3M	+11%	42.8
#10	Roméo Lavia Chelsea FC	£33.1M	£29.1M-37.0M	+10%	38.7
#11	Lamare Bogarde Aston Villa	£13.2M	£11.6M-14.8M	+10%	38.7
#12	Lesley Ugochukwu Burnley FC	£27.6M	£24.3M-30.9M	+10%	38.7
#13	Soungoutou Magassa West Ham United	£18.7M	£16.5M-21.0M	+10%	38.7
#14	Freddie Potts West Ham United	£8.8M	£7.8M-9.9M	+10%	38.7
#15	Martín Zubimendi Arsenal FC	£80.4M	£70.7M-90.0M	+7%	27.8
#16	André Wolverhampton Wanderers	£30.0M	£26.4M-33.6M	+7%	27.5
#17	Daniil Kulikov FC Pyunik Yerevan	£618K	£544K-692K	+3%	12.0
#18	Anton Stach Leeds United	£20.6M	£18.1M-23.1M	+3%	12.0
#19	Tyler Adams AFC Bournemouth	£25.7M	£22.7M-28.8M	+3%	12.0
#20	James Garner Everton FC	£25.6M	£22.5M-28.7M	+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: defensive midfielder position shows weak depth (avg Z-score: -0.00). RPI: -0.00.

Position Depth Analysis

Total Players

-0.00

Avg Z-Score

-0.00

RPI Score

Weak DepthStrong Depth

-3.00+3.0

Highest Z-Scores

Moisés Caicedo+3.33

Ryan Gravenberch+2.54

Rodri+1.94

Sandro Tonali+1.94

Martín Zubimendi+1.94

Lowest Z-Scores

Rui Pires-1.02

Daniil Kulikov-1.01

Yan Eteki-1.00

Idrissa Gueye-1.00

Ibrahim Blati Touré-0.99

Age-Share Concentration (ASC)

Identifies players capturing disproportionate value relative to age group representation. Positive ASC = value concentration.

Understanding Age-Share Concentration (ASC)

Burnley FC's Florentino in the 24-26 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +17.5%. That means Moisés Caicedo captures 48.0% of total market value while representing only 30.4% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.

In second is Leeds United's Ilia Gruev with a +17.5% ASC (48.0% value share vs 30.4% player share in 24-26 bracket). Third is Ethan Ampadu of Leeds United with a +17.5% ASC (48.0% value vs 30.4% players in 24-26 bracket).

How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +17.5% ASC means the player captures 17.5% more market value than their numerical representation—indicating marquee status. ASC > +15% = elite dominance, ASC < -15% = potential value targets.