Best U23 Young Midfielders in the World
255 players aged 23 or under · ranked by Analytical Strength Index
Best Young Midfielders in the World (Jun 2026)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Index
Market Overview: World Young Midfielders 2023-24
Our database tracked 254 World Young Midfielders in the 2023-24 season, representing 215 clubs with a combined market value of €1.3B. The average market value for World Young Midfielders was €5.3M, with the average age at 22 years old.
The most valuable young midfielder in the World was Pedri, worth €140.0M and played for FC Barcelona at 23 years old. The top 5 Young Midfielders averaged €80.0M in market value, including João Neves and Pablo Barrios.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked young midfielder was Piero Cari (18 years, Club Alianza Lima, €600K), while the oldest was Pedri (23 years, FC Barcelona, €140.0M). Research shows Young Midfielders typically peak at age 26-27.
Historical analysis showed 254 Young Midfielders (100%) increased in market value over the following 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, then-current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The World market for Young 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.
Explore Market Size by Position in World
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all World Young Midfielders. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 215 clubs with €1.3B combined value.
Age Distribution: World Young Midfielders
The World CM market shows 2 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 21-23 bracket (209 players, 82% of market). The 21-23 age group holds the most value at €1.1B, averaging €5.1M per player.
Top Young Midfielders by Age Bracket
U21 Years (45 players)
21-23 Years (209 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 26 Young Midfielders (10% of players) control €911.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with elite (€50m+) tier representing 2% of the World CM pool.
Elite (€50M+)
Premium (€30-50M)
High (€15-30M)
Club Distribution: World Young Midfielders
Among 215 World clubs, FC Barcelona leads with 2 Young Midfielders worth €180.0M (averaging €90.0M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 7% of tracked Young Midfielders.
FC Barcelona (2 Young Midfielders)
Paris Saint-Germain (2 Young Midfielders)
Tottenham Hotspur (3 Young Midfielders)
Atlético de Madrid (1 Young Midfielders)
Player Rankings
Ranked by Analytical Strength Index. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.
Pedri
FC Barcelona • 23 years old
€121.1M
€140.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €156.0M
95.5
João Neves
Paris Saint-Germain • 21 years old
€95.1M
€110.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €126.2M
93.3
Pablo Barrios
Atlético de Madrid • 22 years old
€51.9M
€60.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €66.1M
89.9
Warren Zaïre-Emery
Paris Saint-Germain • 20 years old
€43.2M
€50.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €59.7M
82.2
Lucas Bergvall
Tottenham Hotspur • 20 years old
€34.6M
€40.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €47.7M
71.0
Gavi
FC Barcelona • 21 years old
€34.6M
€40.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €45.9M
70.4
Hugo Larsson
Eintracht Frankfurt • 21 years old
€34.6M
€40.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €45.9M
70.3
Archie Gray
Tottenham Hotspur • 20 years old
€30.3M
€35.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €41.8M
65.5
Pape Matar Sarr
Tottenham Hotspur • 23 years old
€30.3M
€35.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €39.0M
64.3
Johan Manzambi
SC Freiburg • 20 years old
€25.9M
€30.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €34.4M
56.4
Victor Froholdt
FC Porto • 20 years old
€25.9M
€30.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €34.4M
56.1
Alex Scott
AFC Bournemouth • 22 years old
€25.9M
€30.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €31.8M
56.0
Lamine Camara
AS Monaco • 22 years old
€25.9M
€30.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €31.8M
56.0
Javi Guerra
Valencia CF • 23 years old
€21.6M
€25.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €26.8M
51.0
Diego Gómez
Brighton & Hove Albion • 23 years old
€21.6M
€25.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €26.8M
51.0
Noah Sadiki
Sunderland AFC • 21 years old
€21.6M
€25.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €27.6M
50.9
Christos Mouzakitis
Olympiacos Piraeus • 19 years old
€21.6M
€25.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €29.8M
50.8
Lewis Miley
Newcastle United • 20 years old
€17.3M
€20.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €22.9M
45.4
Andy Diouf
Inter Milan • 23 years old
€15.6M
€18.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €19.3M
44.2
Arthur Atta
Udinese Calcio • 23 years old
€13.0M
€15.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €16.1M
41.3
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)
FC Barcelona's Pedri at 23 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 140.00×. That means Pedri is valued 140.00× 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 João Neves, who is 21 years old, with a 110.00× PPVE. Third is Warren Zaïre-Emery of Paris Saint-Germain, who is 20 years old with a 76.92× 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 140.00× means the player is worth 13900% 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 | Pedri FC Barcelona | 23 | 21-23 | €140.0M | €1.0M | 140.00× |
| #2 | João Neves Paris Saint-Germain | 21 | 21-23 | €110.0M | €1.0M | 110.00× |
| #3 | Warren Zaïre-Emery Paris Saint-Germain | 20 | U21 | €50.0M | €650K | 76.92× |
| #4 | Lucas Bergvall Tottenham Hotspur | 20 | U21 | €40.0M | €650K | 61.54× |
| #5 | Pablo Barrios Atlético de Madrid | 22 | 21-23 | €60.0M | €1.0M | 60.00× |
| #6 | Archie Gray Tottenham Hotspur | 20 | U21 | €35.0M | €650K | 53.85× |
| #7 | Victor Froholdt FC Porto | 20 | U21 | €30.0M | €650K | 46.15× |
| #8 | Johan Manzambi SC Freiburg | 20 | U21 | €30.0M | €650K | 46.15× |
| #9 | Gavi FC Barcelona | 21 | 21-23 | €40.0M | €1.0M | 40.00× |
| #10 | Hugo Larsson Eintracht Frankfurt | 21 | 21-23 | €40.0M | €1.0M | 40.00× |
| #11 | Christos Mouzakitis Olympiacos Piraeus | 19 | U21 | €25.0M | €650K | 38.46× |
| #12 | Pape Matar Sarr Tottenham Hotspur | 23 | 21-23 | €35.0M | €1.0M | 35.00× |
| #13 | Lewis Miley Newcastle United | 20 | U21 | €20.0M | €650K | 30.77× |
| #14 | Alex Scott AFC Bournemouth | 22 | 21-23 | €30.0M | €1.0M | 30.00× |
| #15 | Lamine Camara AS Monaco | 22 | 21-23 | €30.0M | €1.0M | 30.00× |
| #16 | Noah Sadiki Sunderland AFC | 21 | 21-23 | €25.0M | €1.0M | 25.00× |
| #17 | Javi Guerra Valencia CF | 23 | 21-23 | €25.0M | €1.0M | 25.00× |
| #18 | Diego Gómez Brighton & Hove Albion | 23 | 21-23 | €25.0M | €1.0M | 25.00× |
| #19 | Valentin Atangana Al-Ahli SFC | 20 | U21 | €15.0M | €650K | 23.08× |
| #20 | Andy Diouf Inter Milan | 23 | 21-23 | €18.0M | €1.0M | 18.00× |
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)
Club Alianza Lima's Piero Cari at 18 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +44%. That means Piero Cari is projected to appreciate 44% as they reach their peak age in 8 years-representing significant upside before entering their prime.
In second is New York City FC's Jonathan Shore, who is 19 years old, with a +40% RPP (7 years to peak). Third is Hunor Németh of MTK Budapest, who is 19 years old with a +40% RPP (7 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 44% RPP means the player is expected to gain 44% 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 | Piero Cari Club Alianza Lima | 18 | 8 | €600K | €1.1M | +44% |
| #2 | Jonathan Shore New York City FC | 19 | 7 | €1.0M | €1.7M | +40% |
| #3 | Hunor Németh MTK Budapest | 19 | 7 | €500K | €831K | +40% |
| #4 | Edison Gruezo Querétaro FC | 19 | 7 | €250K | €415K | +40% |
| #5 | Christos Mouzakitis Olympiacos Piraeus | 19 | 7 | €25.0M | €41.5M | +40% |
| #6 | Kai Andrews Hibernian FC | 19 | 7 | €400K | €665K | +40% |
| #7 | Andres Guillermo Club A.B.B. | 19 | 7 | €225K | €374K | +40% |
| #8 | Tiago Freitas SL Benfica B | 19 | 7 | €550K | €914K | +40% |
| #9 | Kirill Simonov Fakel Voronezh | 20 | 6 | €350K | €541K | +35% |
| #10 | Caleb Yirenkyi FC Nordsjaelland | 20 | 6 | €6.0M | €9.3M | +35% |
| #11 | Jhojan Arce CA Nacional Potosí | 20 | 6 | €375K | €580K | +35% |
| #12 | Tygo Land FC Groningen | 20 | 6 | €1.5M | €2.3M | +35% |
| #13 | Daniel Kelly Millwall FC | 20 | 6 | €700K | €1.1M | +35% |
| #14 | Laurits Pedersen Randers FC | 20 | 6 | €700K | €1.1M | +35% |
| #15 | Niko Tsakiris San Jose Earthquakes | 20 | 6 | €1.5M | €2.3M | +35% |
| #16 | Santiago Natera Monagas SC | 20 | 6 | €275K | €425K | +35% |
| #17 | Travis Hernes FC Groningen | 20 | 6 | €250K | €386K | +35% |
| #18 | Viktor Tsukanov Shakhtar Donetsk | 20 | 6 | €500K | €773K | +35% |
| #19 | Miguel Vegas Caracas FC | 20 | 6 | €275K | €425K | +35% |
| #20 | Mauricio Amaro Defensor Sporting Club | 20 | 6 | €1.0M | €1.5M | +35% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Club Alianza Lima's Piero Cari has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 68.9. That means Piero Cari has 23% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty-representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is Tottenham Hotspur's Archie Gray with a 58.7 RAU (19% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Warren Zaïre-Emery of Paris Saint-Germain with a 58.7 RAU (19% upside, 0% uncertainty).
How RAU is calculated: RAU divides upside potential by forecast uncertainty (RAU = Upside % ÷ Uncertainty %). A RAU of 68.9 means the upside is 68.9× 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 | Piero Cari Club Alianza Lima | €741K | €639K-843K | +23% | 68.9 |
| #2 | Archie Gray Tottenham Hotspur | €41.8M | €36.0M-47.5M | +19% | 58.7 |
| #3 | Warren Zaïre-Emery Paris Saint-Germain | €59.7M | €51.4M-67.9M | +19% | 58.7 |
| #4 | Lucas Bergvall Tottenham Hotspur | €47.7M | €41.1M-54.3M | +19% | 58.7 |
| #5 | Jonathan Shore New York City FC | €1.2M | €1.0M-1.4M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #6 | Hunor Németh MTK Budapest | €595K | €513K-678K | +19% | 58.0 |
| #7 | Edison Gruezo Querétaro FC | €298K | €257K-339K | +19% | 58.0 |
| #8 | Tiago Freitas SL Benfica B | €655K | €565K-745K | +19% | 58.0 |
| #9 | Kai Andrews Hibernian FC | €476K | €411K-542K | +19% | 58.0 |
| #10 | Christos Mouzakitis Olympiacos Piraeus | €29.8M | €25.7M-33.9M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #11 | Andres Guillermo Club A.B.B. | €268K | €231K-305K | +19% | 58.0 |
| #12 | Gavi FC Barcelona | €45.9M | €39.6M-52.2M | +15% | 46.6 |
| #13 | Hugo Larsson Eintracht Frankfurt | €45.9M | €39.6M-52.2M | +15% | 46.6 |
| #14 | João Neves Paris Saint-Germain | €126.2M | €108.8M-143.6M | +15% | 46.6 |
| #15 | Travis Hernes FC Groningen | €287K | €247K-326K | +15% | 46.3 |
| #16 | Viktor Tsukanov Shakhtar Donetsk | €573K | €494K-652K | +15% | 46.3 |
| #17 | Mauricio Amaro Defensor Sporting Club | €1.1M | €988K-1.3M | +15% | 46.3 |
| #18 | Ian Wisdom Club Sporting Cristal | €573K | €494K-652K | +15% | 46.3 |
| #19 | Flavio Moya Deportes Limache | €516K | €445K-587K | +15% | 46.3 |
| #20 | Tomás Moreira SL Benfica B | €516K | €445K-587K | +15% | 46.3 |
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: young 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)
Unión Magdalena's José Mercado in the 21-23 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +-3.2%. That means Pedri captures 79.1% of total market value while representing only 82.3% of players in their age group-showing dominant elite status.
In second is FC Nantes's Dehmaine Tabibou with a +-3.2% ASC (79.1% value share vs 82.3% player share in 21-23 bracket). Third is Lorenzo Scipioni of Olympiacos Piraeus with a +-3.2% ASC (79.1% value vs 82.3% players in 21-23 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +-3.2% ASC means the player captures -3.2% 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 | José Mercado Unión Magdalena | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #2 | Dehmaine Tabibou FC Nantes | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #3 | Lorenzo Scipioni Olympiacos Piraeus | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #4 | Catriel Cabellos Club Sporting Cristal | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #5 | Théo Chennahi Montpellier HSC | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #6 | Tomás O'Connor Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #7 | Abdellah Baallal Clermont Foot 63 | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #8 | Breno Bidon Sport Club Corinthians Paulista | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #9 | Sotiris Kontouris Panathinaikos FC | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #10 | Mahamadou Doumbia Al-Ittihad Club | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #11 | Asier Osambela CA Osasuna Promesas | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #12 | Juan Salcedo Club Sportivo Trinidense | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #13 | Ramiro Peralta CA Juventud | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #14 | Christian Ordóñez Parma Calcio 1913 | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #15 | Cláudio Araújo Leixões SC | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #16 | Yaya Fofana Stade Reims | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #17 | Mahamadou Diawara Royal Antwerp FC | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #18 | Mateo Flores FC Arouca | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #19 | David Sotelo CA Newell's Old Boys | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
| #20 | Marcos Peña FC Famalicão | 21-23 | 79.1% | 82.3% | -3.2% |
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: 11 immediate targets, 243 standard acquisitions, 0 watch-list prospects, 0 at peak.
BUY NOW - High Upside
WATCH LIST - High Upside
No players in this category
BUY NOW - Medium Upside
PEAK Players
No players in this category
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 €500K. 0 undervalued, 22 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
İsak Vural Pisa Sporting Club | €5.0M | €900K | -1.00 | Good Value |
Gabriel Bontempo Santos FC | €5.0M | €900K | -0.88 | Good Value |
Martim Neto Elche CF | €5.0M | €900K | -0.88 | Good Value |
Youri Regeer Ajax Amsterdam | €5.0M | €900K | -0.88 | Good Value |
Umut Tohumcu Holstein Kiel | €5.0M | €900K | -0.88 | Good Value |
Bobby Clark Derby County | €5.0M | €900K | -0.88 | Good Value |
Gvidas Gineitis Torino FC | €5.5M | €900K | -0.75 | Good Value |
Denil Castillo FC Midtjylland | €5.5M | €900K | -0.75 | Good Value |
Medon Berisha US Lecce | €6.0M | €900K | -0.63 | Good Value |
Pablo Barrios Atlético de Madrid | €60.0M | €900K | -0.63 | Good Value |
Kodai Sano NEC Nijmegen | €6.0M | €900K | -0.63 | Good Value |
Andres Guillermo Club A.B.B. | €225K | €900K | -0.58 | Good Value |
Travis Hernes FC Groningen | €250K | €900K | -0.53 | Good Value |
Edison Gruezo Querétaro FC | €250K | €900K | -0.53 | Good Value |
Théo Hansen Hobro IK | €250K | €900K | -0.53 | Good Value |
Christian Ordóñez Parma Calcio 1913 | €6.5M | €900K | -0.50 | Fair Value |
Alex Scott AFC Bournemouth | €30.0M | €900K | -0.50 | Fair Value |
Lamine Camara AS Monaco | €30.0M | €900K | -0.50 | Fair Value |
Valentin Atangana Al-Ahli SFC | €15.0M | €900K | -0.50 | Fair Value |
Victor Froholdt FC Porto | €30.0M | €900K | -0.50 | Fair Value |