Best U23 Young Left-Backs in the Championship
14 players aged 23 or under · ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Best Young Left-Backs in the Championship (Apr 2026)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: Championship Young Left-Backs 2022-23
Our database tracked 14 Championship Young Left-Backs in the 2022-23 season, representing 14 clubs with a combined market value of €38.7M. The average market value for Championship Young Left-Backs was €2.8M, with the average age at 21.9 years old.
The most valuable young left-back in the Championship was Victor Kristiansen, worth €15.0M and played for Leicester City at 23 years old. The top 5 Young Left-Backs averaged €6.6M in market value, including Samuel Iling-Junior and Harry Amass.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked young left-back was Harry Amass (19 years, Sheffield Wednesday, €5.0M), while the oldest was Victor Kristiansen (23 years, Leicester City, €15.0M). Research shows Young Left-Backs typically peak at age 27.
Historical analysis showed 14 Young Left-Backs (100%) increased in market value over the following 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, then-current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The Championship market for Young 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 Championship
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all Championship Young Left-Backs. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 14 clubs with €38.7M combined value.
Age Distribution: Championship Young Left-Backs
The Championship LB market shows 2 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 21-23 bracket (12 players, 86% of market). The 21-23 age group holds the most value at €33.0M, averaging €2.7M per player.
Top Young Left-Backs by Age Bracket
U21 Years (2 players)
21-23 Years (12 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 2 Young Left-Backs (14% of players) control €25.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with high (€15-30m) tier representing 7% of the Championship LB pool.
High (€15-30M)
Mid (€5-15M)
Emerging (<€5M)
Club Distribution: Championship Young Left-Backs
Among 14 Championship clubs, Leicester City leads with 1 Young Left-Backs worth €15.0M (averaging €15.0M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 71% of tracked Young Left-Backs.
Leicester City (1 Young Left-Backs)
West Bromwich Albion (1 Young Left-Backs)
Sheffield Wednesday (1 Young Left-Backs)
Norwich City (1 Young 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.
Victor Kristiansen
Leicester City • 23 years old
€13.0M
€15.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €16.1M
70.1
Samuel Iling-Junior
West Bromwich Albion • 22 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €10.6M
60.9
Harry Amass
Sheffield Wednesday • 19 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.0M
50.4
Ben Chrisene
Norwich City • 22 years old
€1.3M
€1.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.6M
33.7
Thierry Small
Preston North End • 21 years old
€1.3M
€1.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.7M
33.1
Owen Beck
Derby County • 23 years old
€1.1M
€1.3M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.4M
32.5
Haydon Roberts
Bristol City • 23 years old
€1.0M
€1.2M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.3M
31.5
Ziyad Larkeche
Queens Park Rangers • 23 years old
€692K
€800K
+15.6%
Expected: €857K
26.5
Ishé Samuels-Smith
Swansea City • 19 years old
€605K
€700K
+15.6%
Expected: €833K
22.4
Ewan Wilson
Raith Rovers FC • 21 years old
€519K
€600K
+15.6%
Expected: €662K
21.7
Zak Sturge
Millwall FC • 21 years old
€346K
€400K
+15.6%
Expected: €441K
16.6
James Furlong
Hull City • 23 years old
€259K
€300K
+15.6%
Expected: €321K
14.3
Josh Reid
Ross County FC • 23 years old
€173K
€200K
+15.6%
Expected: €214K
9.2
Kieran Ngwenya
Dunfermline Athletic FC • 23 years old
€151K
€175K
+15.6%
Expected: €187K
7.5
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)
Leicester City's Victor Kristiansen at 23 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 12.50×. That means Victor Kristiansen is valued 12.50× higher than the median player in the 21-23 age bracket—representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is West Bromwich Albion's Samuel Iling-Junior, who is 22 years old, with a 8.33× PPVE. Third is Ben Chrisene of Norwich City, who is 22 years old with a 1.25× 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 12.50× means the player is worth 1150% 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 | Victor Kristiansen Leicester City | 23 | 21-23 | €15.0M | €1.2M | 12.50× |
| #2 | Samuel Iling-Junior West Bromwich Albion | 22 | 21-23 | €10.0M | €1.2M | 8.33× |
| #3 | Ben Chrisene Norwich City | 22 | 21-23 | €1.5M | €1.2M | 1.25× |
| #4 | Thierry Small Preston North End | 21 | 21-23 | €1.5M | €1.2M | 1.25× |
| #5 | Owen Beck Derby County | 23 | 21-23 | €1.3M | €1.2M | 1.08× |
| #6 | Harry Amass Sheffield Wednesday | 19 | U21 | €5.0M | €5.0M | 1.00× |
| #7 | Haydon Roberts Bristol City | 23 | 21-23 | €1.2M | €1.2M | 1.00× |
| #8 | Ziyad Larkeche Queens Park Rangers | 23 | 21-23 | €800K | €1.2M | 0.67× |
| #9 | Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | 21 | 21-23 | €600K | €1.2M | 0.50× |
| #10 | Zak Sturge Millwall FC | 21 | 21-23 | €400K | €1.2M | 0.33× |
| #11 | James Furlong Hull City | 23 | 21-23 | €300K | €1.2M | 0.25× |
| #12 | Josh Reid Ross County FC | 23 | 21-23 | €200K | €1.2M | 0.17× |
| #13 | Kieran Ngwenya Dunfermline Athletic FC | 23 | 21-23 | €175K | €1.2M | 0.15× |
| #14 | Ishé Samuels-Smith Swansea City | 19 | U21 | €700K | €5.0M | 0.14× |
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)
Swansea City's Ishé Samuels-Smith at 19 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +40%. That means Ishé Samuels-Smith is projected to appreciate 40% as they reach their peak age in 7 years—representing significant upside before entering their prime.
In second is Sheffield Wednesday's Harry Amass, who is 19 years old, with a +40% RPP (7 years to peak). Third is Ewan Wilson of Raith Rovers FC, 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 40% RPP means the player is expected to gain 40% 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 | Ishé Samuels-Smith Swansea City | 19 | 7 | €700K | €1.2M | +40% |
| #2 | Harry Amass Sheffield Wednesday | 19 | 7 | €5.0M | €8.3M | +40% |
| #3 | Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | 21 | 5 | €600K | €862K | +30% |
| #4 | Thierry Small Preston North End | 21 | 5 | €1.5M | €2.2M | +30% |
| #5 | Zak Sturge Millwall FC | 21 | 5 | €400K | €575K | +30% |
| #6 | Samuel Iling-Junior West Bromwich Albion | 22 | 4 | €10.0M | €13.4M | +25% |
| #7 | Ben Chrisene Norwich City | 22 | 4 | €1.5M | €2.0M | +25% |
| #8 | Kieran Ngwenya Dunfermline Athletic FC | 23 | 3 | €175K | €218K | +20% |
| #9 | Haydon Roberts Bristol City | 23 | 3 | €1.2M | €1.5M | +20% |
| #10 | James Furlong Hull City | 23 | 3 | €300K | €373K | +20% |
| #11 | Owen Beck Derby County | 23 | 3 | €1.3M | €1.6M | +20% |
| #12 | Josh Reid Ross County FC | 23 | 3 | €200K | €249K | +20% |
| #13 | Ziyad Larkeche Queens Park Rangers | 23 | 3 | €800K | €995K | +20% |
| #14 | Victor Kristiansen Leicester City | 23 | 3 | €15.0M | €18.6M | +20% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Swansea City's Ishé Samuels-Smith has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 58.0. That means Ishé Samuels-Smith has 19% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is Sheffield Wednesday's Harry Amass with a 58.0 RAU (19% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Thierry Small of Preston North End with a 33.7 RAU (10% upside, 0% uncertainty).
How RAU is calculated: RAU divides upside potential by forecast uncertainty (RAU = Upside % ÷ Uncertainty %). A RAU of 58.0 means the upside is 58.0× 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 | Ishé Samuels-Smith Swansea City | €833K | €718K-949K | +19% | 58.0 |
| #2 | Harry Amass Sheffield Wednesday | €6.0M | €5.1M-6.8M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #3 | Thierry Small Preston North End | €1.7M | €1.4M-1.9M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #4 | Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | €662K | €570K-753K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #5 | Zak Sturge Millwall FC | €441K | €380K-502K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #6 | Victor Kristiansen Leicester City | €16.1M | €14.1M-18.0M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #7 | Haydon Roberts Bristol City | €1.3M | €1.1M-1.4M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #8 | James Furlong Hull City | €321K | €283K-360K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #9 | Owen Beck Derby County | €1.4M | €1.2M-1.6M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #10 | Kieran Ngwenya Dunfermline Athletic FC | €187K | €165K-210K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #11 | Josh Reid Ross County FC | €214K | €188K-240K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #12 | Ziyad Larkeche Queens Park Rangers | €857K | €754K-959K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #13 | Ben Chrisene Norwich City | €1.6M | €1.4M-1.8M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #14 | Samuel Iling-Junior West Bromwich Albion | €10.6M | €9.3M-11.9M | +6% | 23.0 |
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 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)
Sheffield Wednesday's Harry Amass in the U21 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +0.5%. That means Harry Amass captures 14.7% of total market value while representing only 14.3% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is Swansea City's Ishé Samuels-Smith with a +0.5% ASC (14.7% value share vs 14.3% player share in U21 bracket). Third is Haydon Roberts of Bristol City with a +-0.5% ASC (85.3% value vs 85.7% players in 21-23 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +0.5% ASC means the player captures 0.5% 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 | Harry Amass Sheffield Wednesday | U21 | 14.7% | 14.3% | +0.5% |
| #2 | Ishé Samuels-Smith Swansea City | U21 | 14.7% | 14.3% | +0.5% |
| #3 | Haydon Roberts Bristol City | 21-23 | 85.3% | 85.7% | -0.5% |
| #4 | Owen Beck Derby County | 21-23 | 85.3% | 85.7% | -0.5% |
| #5 | Josh Reid Ross County FC | 21-23 | 85.3% | 85.7% | -0.5% |
| #6 | Victor Kristiansen Leicester City | 21-23 | 85.3% | 85.7% | -0.5% |
| #7 | James Furlong Hull City | 21-23 | 85.3% | 85.7% | -0.5% |
| #8 | Samuel Iling-Junior West Bromwich Albion | 21-23 | 85.3% | 85.7% | -0.5% |
| #9 | Ziyad Larkeche Queens Park Rangers | 21-23 | 85.3% | 85.7% | -0.5% |
| #10 | Ben Chrisene Norwich City | 21-23 | 85.3% | 85.7% | -0.5% |
| #11 | Thierry Small Preston North End | 21-23 | 85.3% | 85.7% | -0.5% |
| #12 | Zak Sturge Millwall FC | 21-23 | 85.3% | 85.7% | -0.5% |
| #13 | Kieran Ngwenya Dunfermline Athletic FC | 21-23 | 85.3% | 85.7% | -0.5% |
| #14 | Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | 21-23 | 85.3% | 85.7% | -0.5% |
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: 2 immediate targets, 12 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 €15.0M. 0 undervalued, 0 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kieran Ngwenya Dunfermline Athletic FC | €175K | €1.2M | -0.63 | Good Value |
Josh Reid Ross County FC | €200K | €1.2M | -0.60 | Good Value |
James Furlong Hull City | €300K | €1.2M | -0.50 | Fair Value |
Zak Sturge Millwall FC | €400K | €1.2M | -0.40 | Fair Value |
Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | €600K | €1.2M | -0.20 | Fair Value |
Harry Amass Sheffield Wednesday | €5.0M | €1.2M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Victor Kristiansen Leicester City | €15.0M | €1.2M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Samuel Iling-Junior West Bromwich Albion | €10.0M | €1.2M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Ziyad Larkeche Queens Park Rangers | €800K | €1.2M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Ishé Samuels-Smith Swansea City | €700K | €1.2M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Haydon Roberts Bristol City | €1.2M | €1.2M | +0.40 | Fair Value |
Owen Beck Derby County | €1.3M | €1.2M | +0.50 | Fair Value |
Ben Chrisene Norwich City | €1.5M | €1.2M | +0.70 | Above Market |
Thierry Small Preston North End | €1.5M | €1.2M | +0.70 | Above Market |