Under 23 · World · 2026-27

Best U23 Young Midfielders in the World

227 players aged 23 or under · ranked by Analytical Strength Score

Best Young Midfielders in the World (Apr 2026)

Ranked by Analytical Strength Score

Market Overview: World Young Midfielders 2026-27

Our database tracked 227 World Young Midfielders in the 2026-27 season, representing 191 clubs with a combined market value of €896.4M. The average market value for World Young Midfielders was €3.9M, with the average age at 21.7 years old.

The most valuable young midfielder in the World was João Neves, worth €80.0M and played for Paris Saint-Germain at 21 years old. The top 5 Young Midfielders averaged €50.0M in market value, including Warren Zaïre-Emery and Gavi.

Age distribution showed the youngest tracked young midfielder was Ayyoub Bouaddi (18 years, LOSC Lille, €28.0M), while the oldest was Elliot Anderson (23 years, Nottingham Forest, €32.0M). Research shows Young Midfielders typically peak at age 26-27.

Historical analysis showed 227 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 2026-27 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 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 191 clubs with €896.4M combined value.

227

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: World Young Midfielders

The World CM market shows 2 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 21-23 bracket (189 players, 83% of market). The 21-23 age group holds the most value at €726.4M, averaging €3.8M per player.

U21 years38 players (17%)

€170.0MAvg: €4.5M

Top player: Warren Zaïre-Emery (€55.0M)

21-23 years189 players (83%)

€726.4MAvg: €3.8M

Top player: João Neves (€80.0M)

Top Young Midfielders by Age Bracket

U21 Years (38 players)

1. Warren Zaïre-Emery(20yo)

€55.0M

2. Ayyoub Bouaddi(18yo)

€28.0M

3. Matvey Kislyak(20yo)

€16.0M

4. Senny Mayulu(19yo)

€15.0M

5. Kees Smit(20yo)

€10.0M

21-23 Years (189 players)

1. João Neves(21yo)

€80.0M

2. Gavi(21yo)

€40.0M

3. Hugo Larsson(21yo)

€40.0M

4. Andrey Santos(21yo)

€35.0M

5. Elliot Anderson(23yo)

€32.0M

Market Value Distribution

Elite Tier Concentration

64%of market value

The top 23 Young Midfielders (10% of players) control €576.0M

1. João Neves€80.0M

2. Warren Zaïre-Emery€55.0M

3. Gavi€40.0M

4. Hugo Larsson€40.0M

5. Andrey Santos€35.0M

Market Tiers

Elite (€50M+)2 players (1%)

€135.0M

Premium (€30-50M)5 players (2%)

€179.0M

High (€15-30M)10 players (4%)

€191.0M

Mid (€5-15M)28 players (12%)

€222.0M

Emerging (<€5M)182 players (80%)

€169.5M

Market structure shows distributed value with elite (€50m+) tier representing 1% of the World CM pool.

Elite (€50M+)

1. João Neves

Paris Saint-Germain€80.0M

2. Warren Zaïre-Emery

Paris Saint-Germain€55.0M

Premium (€30-50M)

1. Gavi

FC Barcelona€40.0M

2. Hugo Larsson

Eintracht Frankfurt€40.0M

3. Andrey Santos

Chelsea FC€35.0M

4. Elliot Anderson

Nottingham Forest€32.0M

5. Pape Matar Sarr

Tottenham Hotspur€32.0M

High (€15-30M)

1. Ayyoub Bouaddi

LOSC Lille€28.0M

2. Javi Guerra

Valencia CF€25.0M

3. Lamine Camara

AS Monaco€22.0M

4. Yunus Musah

Atalanta BC€20.0M

5. Alex Scott

AFC Bournemouth€20.0M

Club Distribution: World Young Midfielders

Among 191 World clubs, Paris Saint-Germain leads with 3 Young Midfielders worth €150.0M (averaging €50.0M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 7% of tracked Young Midfielders.

Paris Saint-Germain

3 players • €150.0M

FC Barcelona

1 players • €40.0M

Eintracht Frankfurt

1 players • €40.0M

Chelsea FC

1 players • €35.0M

LOSC Lille

2 players • €33.0M

Nottingham Forest

1 players • €32.0M

Tottenham Hotspur

1 players • €32.0M

Valencia CF

1 players • €25.0M

Borussia Mönchengladbach

3 players • €24.5M

#10

Everton FC

2 players • €23.0M

Paris Saint-Germain (3 Young Midfielders)

João Neves(21yo)

€80.0M

Warren Zaïre-Emery(20yo)

€55.0M

Senny Mayulu(19yo)

€15.0M

FC Barcelona (1 Young Midfielders)

Gavi(21yo)

€40.0M

Eintracht Frankfurt (1 Young Midfielders)

Hugo Larsson(21yo)

€40.0M

Chelsea FC (1 Young Midfielders)

Andrey Santos(21yo)

€35.0M

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%

€79.1M€104.5M

Expected: €91.8M

93.3

Warren Zaïre-Emery

Paris Saint-Germain • 20 years old

€47.6M

€55.0M

+15.6%

€56.6M€74.7M

Expected: €65.6M

87.0

Gavi

FC Barcelona • 21 years old

€34.6M

€40.0M

+15.6%

€39.6M€52.2M

Expected: €45.9M

70.4

Hugo Larsson

Eintracht Frankfurt • 21 years old

€34.6M

€40.0M

+15.6%

€39.6M€52.2M

Expected: €45.9M

70.3

Andrey Santos

Chelsea FC • 21 years old

€30.3M

€35.0M

+15.6%

€34.6M€45.7M

Expected: €40.2M

65.2

Elliot Anderson

Nottingham Forest • 23 years old

€27.7M

€32.0M

+15.6%

€31.4M€39.9M

Expected: €35.7M

61.4

Pape Matar Sarr

Tottenham Hotspur • 23 years old

€27.7M

€32.0M

+15.6%

€31.4M€39.9M

Expected: €35.7M

61.4

Ayyoub Bouaddi

LOSC Lille • 18 years old

€24.2M

€28.0M

+15.6%

€29.8M€39.3M

Expected: €34.6M

54.9

Javi Guerra

Valencia CF • 22 years old

€21.6M

€25.0M

+15.6%

€23.3M€29.6M

Expected: €26.5M

50.9

#10

Lamine Camara

AS Monaco • 22 years old

€19.0M

€22.0M

+15.6%

€20.5M€26.1M

Expected: €23.3M

47.9

#11

Yunus Musah

Atalanta BC • 23 years old

€17.3M

€20.0M

+15.6%

€18.8M€24.0M

Expected: €21.4M

46.1

#12

Alex Scott

AFC Bournemouth • 22 years old

€17.3M

€20.0M

+15.6%

€18.6M€23.7M

Expected: €21.2M

45.8

#13

Rocco Reitz

Borussia Mönchengladbach • 23 years old

€13.0M

€15.0M

+15.6%

€14.1M€18.0M

Expected: €16.1M

41.3

#14

Yegor Yarmolyuk

Brentford FC • 22 years old

€13.0M

€15.0M

+15.6%

€14.0M€17.8M

Expected: €15.9M

40.8

#15

Matvey Kislyak

CSKA Moscow • 20 years old

€13.8M

€16.0M

+15.6%

€15.8M€20.9M

Expected: €18.3M

40.7

#16

Mateus Fernandes

West Ham United • 21 years old

€13.0M

€15.0M

+15.6%

€14.3M€18.8M

Expected: €16.5M

40.3

#17

Carlos Alcaraz

Everton FC • 23 years old

€12.1M

€14.0M

+15.6%

€13.2M€16.8M

Expected: €15.0M

40.3

#18

Senny Mayulu

Paris Saint-Germain • 19 years old

€13.0M

€15.0M

+15.6%

€15.4M€20.3M

Expected: €17.9M

39.8

#19

Arthur Atta

Udinese Calcio • 23 years old

€10.4M

€12.0M

+15.6%

€11.3M€14.4M

Expected: €12.8M

38.4

#20

Ismaël Koné

US Sassuolo • 23 years old

€10.4M

€12.0M

+15.6%

€11.3M€14.4M

Expected: €12.8M

38.4

...

Showing 1-20 of 227

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 114.29×. That means João Neves is valued 114.29× 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 20 years old, with a 100.00× PPVE. Third is Gavi of FC Barcelona, who is 21 years old with a 57.14× 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 114.29× means the player is worth 11329% more than typical players their age—making them high-value targets before they reach peak value.

PPVE by Age Bracket

João NevesParis Saint-Germain

21-23 • 21yo114.29×

€80.0M • 11329% above median

Warren Zaïre-EmeryParis Saint-Germain

U21 • 20yo100.00×

€55.0M • 9900% above median

GaviFC Barcelona

21-23 • 21yo57.14×

€40.0M • 5614% above median

Hugo LarssonEintracht Frankfurt

21-23 • 21yo57.14×

€40.0M • 5614% above median

Ayyoub BouaddiLOSC Lille

U21 • 18yo50.91×

€28.0M • 4991% above median

Andrey SantosChelsea FC

21-23 • 21yo50.00×

€35.0M • 4900% above median

Elliot AndersonNottingham Forest

21-23 • 23yo45.71×

€32.0M • 4471% above median

Pape Matar SarrTottenham Hotspur

21-23 • 23yo45.71×

€32.0M • 4471% above median

Javi GuerraValencia CF

21-23 • 22yo35.71×

€25.0M • 3471% above median

Lamine CamaraAS Monaco

21-23 • 22yo31.43×

€22.0M • 3043% above median

Matvey KislyakCSKA Moscow

U21 • 20yo29.09×

€16.0M • 2809% above median

Yunus MusahAtalanta BC

21-23 • 23yo28.57×

€20.0M • 2757% above median

Alex ScottAFC Bournemouth

21-23 • 22yo28.57×

€20.0M • 2757% above median

Senny MayuluParis Saint-Germain

U21 • 19yo27.27×

€15.0M • 2627% above median

Rocco ReitzBorussia Mönchengladbach

21-23 • 23yo21.43×

€15.0M • 2043% above median

Rank	Player	Age	Bracket	Current Value	Bracket Median	PPVE
#1	João Neves Paris Saint-Germain	21	21-23	€80.0M	€700K	114.29×
#2	Warren Zaïre-Emery Paris Saint-Germain	20	U21	€55.0M	€550K	100.00×
#3	Gavi FC Barcelona	21	21-23	€40.0M	€700K	57.14×
#4	Hugo Larsson Eintracht Frankfurt	21	21-23	€40.0M	€700K	57.14×
#5	Ayyoub Bouaddi LOSC Lille	18	U21	€28.0M	€550K	50.91×
#6	Andrey Santos Chelsea FC	21	21-23	€35.0M	€700K	50.00×
#7	Elliot Anderson Nottingham Forest	23	21-23	€32.0M	€700K	45.71×
#8	Pape Matar Sarr Tottenham Hotspur	23	21-23	€32.0M	€700K	45.71×
#9	Javi Guerra Valencia CF	22	21-23	€25.0M	€700K	35.71×
#10	Lamine Camara AS Monaco	22	21-23	€22.0M	€700K	31.43×
#11	Matvey Kislyak CSKA Moscow	20	U21	€16.0M	€550K	29.09×
#12	Yunus Musah Atalanta BC	23	21-23	€20.0M	€700K	28.57×
#13	Alex Scott AFC Bournemouth	22	21-23	€20.0M	€700K	28.57×
#14	Senny Mayulu Paris Saint-Germain	19	U21	€15.0M	€550K	27.27×
#15	Rocco Reitz Borussia Mönchengladbach	23	21-23	€15.0M	€700K	21.43×
#16	Yegor Yarmolyuk Brentford FC	22	21-23	€15.0M	€700K	21.43×
#17	Mateus Fernandes West Ham United	21	21-23	€15.0M	€700K	21.43×
#18	Carlos Alcaraz Everton FC	23	21-23	€14.0M	€700K	20.00×
#19	Kees Smit AZ Alkmaar	20	U21	€10.0M	€550K	18.18×
#20	Breno Bidon Sport Club Corinthians Paulista	21	21-23	€12.0M	€700K	17.14×

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)

Liverpool FC's Trey Nyoni at 18 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +44%. That means Ayyoub Bouaddi is projected to appreciate 44% as they reach their peak age in 8 years—representing significant upside before entering their prime.

In second is LOSC Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is 18 years old, with a +44% RPP (8 years to peak). Third is Piero Cari of Club Alianza Lima, who is 18 years old with a +44% RPP (8 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

Trey NyoniLiverpool FC

8yr to peak+44%

€4.5M → €8.0M

Ayyoub BouaddiLOSC Lille

8yr to peak+44%

€28.0M → €50.0M

Piero CariClub Alianza Lima

8yr to peak+44%

€550K → €983K

Youssef HamdaouiRoyal Antwerp FC

8yr to peak+44%

€250K → €447K

Edison GruezoQuerétaro FC

8yr to peak+44%

€300K → €536K

Julius LorentsSilkeborg IF

7yr to peak+40%

€400K → €665K

João CruzClub Athletico Paranaense

7yr to peak+40%

€600K → €997K

Kirill SimonovFakel Voronezh

7yr to peak+40%

€250K → €415K

Miguel VegasCaracas FC

7yr to peak+40%

€300K → €499K

Rocco Di VicoUS Salernitana 1919

7yr to peak+40%

€250K → €415K

Alessandro BerrettaAS Giana Erminio

7yr to peak+40%

€325K → €540K

Senny MayuluParis Saint-Germain

7yr to peak+40%

€15.0M → €24.9M

Lennon MillerUdinese Calcio

7yr to peak+40%

€8.0M → €13.3M

Agustín MedinaCA Lanús

7yr to peak+40%

€3.0M → €5.0M

Ethan MbappéLOSC Lille

7yr to peak+40%

€5.0M → €8.3M

Rank	Player	Age	Years to Peak	Current	Peak Forecast	RPP %
#1	Trey Nyoni Liverpool FC	18	8	€4.5M	€8.0M	+44%
#2	Ayyoub Bouaddi LOSC Lille	18	8	€28.0M	€50.0M	+44%
#3	Piero Cari Club Alianza Lima	18	8	€550K	€983K	+44%
#4	Youssef Hamdaoui Royal Antwerp FC	18	8	€250K	€447K	+44%
#5	Edison Gruezo Querétaro FC	18	8	€300K	€536K	+44%
#6	Julius Lorents Silkeborg IF	19	7	€400K	€665K	+40%
#7	João Cruz Club Athletico Paranaense	19	7	€600K	€997K	+40%
#8	Kirill Simonov Fakel Voronezh	19	7	€250K	€415K	+40%
#9	Miguel Vegas Caracas FC	19	7	€300K	€499K	+40%
#10	Rocco Di Vico US Salernitana 1919	19	7	€250K	€415K	+40%
#11	Alessandro Berretta AS Giana Erminio	19	7	€325K	€540K	+40%
#12	Senny Mayulu Paris Saint-Germain	19	7	€15.0M	€24.9M	+40%
#13	Lennon Miller Udinese Calcio	19	7	€8.0M	€13.3M	+40%
#14	Agustín Medina CA Lanús	19	7	€3.0M	€5.0M	+40%
#15	Ethan Mbappé LOSC Lille	19	7	€5.0M	€8.3M	+40%
#16	Mauricio Amaro Defensor Sporting Club	20	6	€700K	€1.1M	+35%
#17	Laurits Pedersen Randers FC	20	6	€350K	€541K	+35%
#18	Giuseppe Mazzaglia Piacenza Calcio 1919	20	6	€250K	€386K	+35%
#19	Ian Wisdom Club Sporting Cristal	20	6	€450K	€696K	+35%
#20	Kener González CD América de Cali	20	6	€500K	€773K	+35%

Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)

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

Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)

Liverpool FC's Trey Nyoni has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 68.9. That means Trey Nyoni has 23% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.

In second is Royal Antwerp FC's Youssef Hamdaoui with a 68.9 RAU (23% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Edison Gruezo of Querétaro FC with a 68.9 RAU (23% 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

Trey NyoniLiverpool FC

↑23% / ±0%68.9

Range: €4.8M - €6.3M

Youssef HamdaouiRoyal Antwerp FC

↑23% / ±0%68.9

Range: €266K - €351K

Edison GruezoQuerétaro FC

↑23% / ±0%68.9

Range: €319K - €422K

Ayyoub BouaddiLOSC Lille

↑23% / ±0%68.9

Range: €29.8M - €39.3M

Piero CariClub Alianza Lima

↑23% / ±0%68.9

Range: €585K - €773K

Warren Zaïre-EmeryParis Saint-Germain

↑19% / ±0%58.7

Range: €56.6M - €74.7M

João CruzClub Athletico Paranaense

↑19% / ±0%58.0

Range: €616K - €813K

Miguel VegasCaracas FC

↑19% / ±0%58.0

Range: €308K - €407K

Kirill SimonovFakel Voronezh

↑19% / ±0%58.0

Range: €257K - €339K

Rocco Di VicoUS Salernitana 1919

↑19% / ±0%58.0

Range: €257K - €339K

Lennon MillerUdinese Calcio

↑19% / ±0%58.0

Range: €8.2M - €10.8M

Ethan MbappéLOSC Lille

↑19% / ±0%58.0

Range: €5.1M - €6.8M

Agustín MedinaCA Lanús

↑19% / ±0%58.0

Range: €3.1M - €4.1M

Julius LorentsSilkeborg IF

↑19% / ±0%58.0

Range: €411K - €542K

Senny MayuluParis Saint-Germain

↑19% / ±0%58.0

Range: €15.4M - €20.3M

Rank	Player	Expected	Range	Upside %	RAU
#1	Trey Nyoni Liverpool FC	€5.6M	€4.8M-6.3M	+23%	68.9
#2	Youssef Hamdaoui Royal Antwerp FC	€309K	€266K-351K	+23%	68.9
#3	Edison Gruezo Querétaro FC	€370K	€319K-422K	+23%	68.9
#4	Ayyoub Bouaddi LOSC Lille	€34.6M	€29.8M-39.3M	+23%	68.9
#5	Piero Cari Club Alianza Lima	€679K	€585K-773K	+23%	68.9
#6	Warren Zaïre-Emery Paris Saint-Germain	€65.6M	€56.6M-74.7M	+19%	58.7
#7	João Cruz Club Athletico Paranaense	€714K	€616K-813K	+19%	58.0
#8	Miguel Vegas Caracas FC	€357K	€308K-407K	+19%	58.0
#9	Kirill Simonov Fakel Voronezh	€298K	€257K-339K	+19%	58.0
#10	Rocco Di Vico US Salernitana 1919	€298K	€257K-339K	+19%	58.0
#11	Lennon Miller Udinese Calcio	€9.5M	€8.2M-10.8M	+19%	58.0
#12	Ethan Mbappé LOSC Lille	€6.0M	€5.1M-6.8M	+19%	58.0
#13	Agustín Medina CA Lanús	€3.6M	€3.1M-4.1M	+19%	58.0
#14	Julius Lorents Silkeborg IF	€476K	€411K-542K	+19%	58.0
#15	Senny Mayulu Paris Saint-Germain	€17.9M	€15.4M-20.3M	+19%	58.0
#16	Alessandro Berretta AS Giana Erminio	€387K	€334K-440K	+19%	58.0
#17	Andrey Santos Chelsea FC	€40.2M	€34.6M-45.7M	+15%	46.6
#18	Gavi FC Barcelona	€45.9M	€39.6M-52.2M	+15%	46.6
#19	João Neves Paris Saint-Germain	€91.8M	€79.1M-104.5M	+15%	46.6
#20	Hugo Larsson Eintracht Frankfurt	€45.9M	€39.6M-52.2M	+15%	46.6

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 weak depth (avg Z-score: -0.00). RPI: -0.00.

Position Depth Analysis

227

Total Players

-0.00

Avg Z-Score

-0.00

RPI Score

Weak DepthStrong Depth

-3.00+3.0

Highest Z-Scores

João Neves+8.42

Warren Zaïre-Emery+5.66

Gavi+3.99

Hugo Larsson+3.99

Andrey Santos+3.44

Lowest Z-Scores

Josué Torres-0.41

Ignacio Gutiérrez-0.41

Martín Larraín-0.41

Youssef Hamdaoui-0.41

Kirill Simonov-0.41

Age-Share Concentration (ASC)

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

Understanding Age-Share Concentration (ASC)

Silkeborg IF's Julius Lorents in the U21 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +2.2%. That means Warren Zaïre-Emery captures 19.0% of total market value while representing only 16.7% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.

In second is Club Athletico Paranaense's João Cruz with a +2.2% ASC (19.0% value share vs 16.7% player share in U21 bracket). Third is Kirill Simonov of Fakel Voronezh with a +2.2% ASC (19.0% value vs 16.7% players in U21 bracket).

How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +2.2% ASC means the player captures 2.2% more market value than their numerical representation—indicating marquee status. ASC > +15% = elite dominance, ASC < -15% = potential value targets.