Best U23 Young Left-Backs in the Championship
14 players aged 23 or under · ranked by Analytical Strength Index
Best Young Left-Backs in the Championship (Jun 2026)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Index
Market Overview: Championship Young Left-Backs 2026-27
Our database tracked 14 Championship Young Left-Backs in the 2026-27 season, representing 13 clubs with a combined market value of €39.1M. The average market value for Championship Young Left-Backs was €2.8M, with the average age at 21 years old.
The most valuable young left-back in the Championship was Victor Kristiansen, worth €14.0M and played for Leicester City at 23 years old. The top 5 Young Left-Backs averaged €6.8M in market value, including Samuel Iling-Junior and Harry Amass.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked young left-back was Harry Amass (19 years, Norwich City, €5.0M), while the oldest was Victor Kristiansen (23 years, Leicester City, €14.0M). 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 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.
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 13 clubs with €39.1M 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 (11 players, 79% of market). The 21-23 age group holds the most value at €33.3M, averaging €3.0M per player.
Top Young Left-Backs by Age Bracket
U21 Years (3 players)
21-23 Years (11 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 2 Young Left-Backs (14% of players) control €24.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with mid (€5-15m) tier representing 21% of the Championship LB pool.
Mid (€5-15M)
Emerging (<€5M)
Club Distribution: Championship Young Left-Backs
Among 13 Championship clubs, Leicester City leads with 1 Young Left-Backs worth €14.0M (averaging €14.0M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 79% of tracked Young Left-Backs.
Leicester City (1 Young Left-Backs)
West Bromwich Albion (1 Young Left-Backs)
Norwich City (2 Young Left-Backs)
Preston North End (1 Young Left-Backs)
Player Rankings
Ranked by Analytical Strength Index. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.
Victor Kristiansen
Leicester City • 23 years old
€12.1M
€14.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €15.0M
69.3
Samuel Iling-Junior
West Bromwich Albion • 22 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €10.6M
60.9
Harry Amass
Norwich City • 19 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.0M
50.4
Thierry Small
Preston North End • 21 years old
€2.6M
€3.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.3M
41.7
Juan Larios
Southampton FC • 22 years old
€1.7M
€2.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €2.1M
37.3
Ben Chrisene
Norwich City • 22 years old
€1.3M
€1.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.6M
33.7
Ziyad Larkeche
Queens Park Rangers • 23 years old
€692K
€800K
+15.6%
Expected: €857K
26.5
Zak Sturge
Millwall FC • 21 years old
€692K
€800K
+15.6%
Expected: €882K
25.2
Ishé Samuels-Smith
Swansea City • 20 years old
€605K
€700K
+15.6%
Expected: €803K
23.0
Ewan Wilson
Raith Rovers FC • 21 years old
€519K
€600K
+15.6%
Expected: €662K
21.7
Finley Munroe
Middlesbrough FC • 21 years old
€216K
€250K
+15.6%
Expected: €276K
10.8
Kieran Ngwenya
Dunfermline Athletic FC • 23 years old
€151K
€175K
+15.6%
Expected: €187K
7.5
Len O'Sullivan
Ross County FC • 22 years old
€151K
€175K
+15.6%
Expected: €185K
6.9
Henry Fieldson
Queen's Park FC • 20 years old
€108K
€125K
+15.6%
Expected: €143K
1.5
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 17.50×. That means Victor Kristiansen is valued 17.50× 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 12.50× PPVE. Third is Harry Amass of Norwich City, who is 19 years old with a 7.14× 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 17.50× means the player is worth 1650% 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 | €14.0M | €800K | 17.50× |
| #2 | Samuel Iling-Junior West Bromwich Albion | 22 | 21-23 | €10.0M | €800K | 12.50× |
| #3 | Harry Amass Norwich City | 19 | U21 | €5.0M | €700K | 7.14× |
| #4 | Thierry Small Preston North End | 21 | 21-23 | €3.0M | €800K | 3.75× |
| #5 | Juan Larios Southampton FC | 22 | 21-23 | €2.0M | €800K | 2.50× |
| #6 | Ben Chrisene Norwich City | 22 | 21-23 | €1.5M | €800K | 1.88× |
| #7 | Ziyad Larkeche Queens Park Rangers | 23 | 21-23 | €800K | €800K | 1.00× |
| #8 | Zak Sturge Millwall FC | 21 | 21-23 | €800K | €800K | 1.00× |
| #9 | Ishé Samuels-Smith Swansea City | 20 | U21 | €700K | €700K | 1.00× |
| #10 | Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | 21 | 21-23 | €600K | €800K | 0.75× |
| #11 | Finley Munroe Middlesbrough FC | 21 | 21-23 | €250K | €800K | 0.31× |
| #12 | Kieran Ngwenya Dunfermline Athletic FC | 23 | 21-23 | €175K | €800K | 0.22× |
| #13 | Len O'Sullivan Ross County FC | 22 | 21-23 | €175K | €800K | 0.22× |
| #14 | Henry Fieldson Queen's Park FC | 20 | U21 | €125K | €700K | 0.18× |
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)
Norwich City's Harry Amass at 19 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +40%. That means Harry Amass is projected to appreciate 40% as they reach their peak age in 7 years-representing significant upside before entering their prime.
In second is Swansea City's Ishé Samuels-Smith, who is 20 years old, with a +35% RPP (6 years to peak). Third is Henry Fieldson of Queen's Park FC, who is 20 years old with a +35% RPP (6 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 | Harry Amass Norwich City | 19 | 7 | €5.0M | €8.3M | +40% |
| #2 | Ishé Samuels-Smith Swansea City | 20 | 6 | €700K | €1.1M | +35% |
| #3 | Henry Fieldson Queen's Park FC | 20 | 6 | €125K | €193K | +35% |
| #4 | Finley Munroe Middlesbrough FC | 21 | 5 | €250K | €359K | +30% |
| #5 | Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | 21 | 5 | €600K | €862K | +30% |
| #6 | Thierry Small Preston North End | 21 | 5 | €3.0M | €4.3M | +30% |
| #7 | Zak Sturge Millwall FC | 21 | 5 | €800K | €1.1M | +30% |
| #8 | Samuel Iling-Junior West Bromwich Albion | 22 | 4 | €10.0M | €13.4M | +25% |
| #9 | Len O'Sullivan Ross County FC | 22 | 4 | €175K | €234K | +25% |
| #10 | Juan Larios Southampton FC | 22 | 4 | €2.0M | €2.7M | +25% |
| #11 | Ben Chrisene Norwich City | 22 | 4 | €1.5M | €2.0M | +25% |
| #12 | Kieran Ngwenya Dunfermline Athletic FC | 23 | 3 | €175K | €218K | +20% |
| #13 | Victor Kristiansen Leicester City | 23 | 3 | €14.0M | €17.4M | +20% |
| #14 | Ziyad Larkeche Queens Park Rangers | 23 | 3 | €800K | €995K | +20% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Norwich City's Harry Amass has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 58.0. That means Harry Amass has 19% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty-representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is Queen's Park FC's Henry Fieldson with a 46.3 RAU (15% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Ishé Samuels-Smith of Swansea City 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 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 | Harry Amass Norwich City | €6.0M | €5.1M-6.8M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #2 | Henry Fieldson Queen's Park FC | €143K | €124K-163K | +15% | 46.3 |
| #3 | Ishé Samuels-Smith Swansea City | €803K | €692K-913K | +15% | 46.3 |
| #4 | Thierry Small Preston North End | €3.3M | €2.9M-3.8M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #5 | Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | €662K | €570K-753K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #6 | Finley Munroe Middlesbrough FC | €276K | €238K-314K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #7 | Zak Sturge Millwall FC | €882K | €760K-1.0M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #8 | Victor Kristiansen Leicester City | €15.0M | €13.2M-16.8M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #9 | Kieran Ngwenya Dunfermline Athletic FC | €187K | €165K-210K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #10 | Ziyad Larkeche Queens Park Rangers | €857K | €754K-959K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #11 | Len O'Sullivan Ross County FC | €185K | €163K-207K | +6% | 23.0 |
| #12 | Juan Larios Southampton FC | €2.1M | €1.9M-2.4M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #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)
Leicester City's Victor Kristiansen in the 21-23 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +6.5%. That means Victor Kristiansen captures 85.1% of total market value while representing only 78.6% of players in their age group-showing dominant elite status.
In second is West Bromwich Albion's Samuel Iling-Junior with a +6.5% ASC (85.1% value share vs 78.6% player share in 21-23 bracket). Third is Ziyad Larkeche of Queens Park Rangers with a +6.5% ASC (85.1% value vs 78.6% players in 21-23 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +6.5% ASC means the player captures 6.5% 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 | Victor Kristiansen Leicester City | 21-23 | 85.1% | 78.6% | +6.5% |
| #2 | Samuel Iling-Junior West Bromwich Albion | 21-23 | 85.1% | 78.6% | +6.5% |
| #3 | Ziyad Larkeche Queens Park Rangers | 21-23 | 85.1% | 78.6% | +6.5% |
| #4 | Juan Larios Southampton FC | 21-23 | 85.1% | 78.6% | +6.5% |
| #5 | Ben Chrisene Norwich City | 21-23 | 85.1% | 78.6% | +6.5% |
| #6 | Thierry Small Preston North End | 21-23 | 85.1% | 78.6% | +6.5% |
| #7 | Zak Sturge Millwall FC | 21-23 | 85.1% | 78.6% | +6.5% |
| #8 | Kieran Ngwenya Dunfermline Athletic FC | 21-23 | 85.1% | 78.6% | +6.5% |
| #9 | Finley Munroe Middlesbrough FC | 21-23 | 85.1% | 78.6% | +6.5% |
| #10 | Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | 21-23 | 85.1% | 78.6% | +6.5% |
| #11 | Len O'Sullivan Ross County FC | 21-23 | 85.1% | 78.6% | +6.5% |
| #12 | Harry Amass Norwich City | U21 | 14.9% | 21.4% | -6.5% |
| #13 | Henry Fieldson Queen's Park FC | U21 | 14.9% | 21.4% | -6.5% |
| #14 | Ishé Samuels-Smith Swansea City | U21 | 14.9% | 21.4% | -6.5% |
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: 1 immediate targets, 13 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 €14.0M. 0 undervalued, 1 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Samuel Iling-Junior West Bromwich Albion | €10.0M | €800K | -1.00 | Good Value |
Henry Fieldson Queen's Park FC | €125K | €800K | -1.00 | Good Value |
Kieran Ngwenya Dunfermline Athletic FC | €175K | €800K | -0.50 | Fair Value |
Len O'Sullivan Ross County FC | €175K | €800K | -0.50 | Fair Value |
Finley Munroe Middlesbrough FC | €250K | €800K | -0.44 | Fair Value |
Ewan Wilson Raith Rovers FC | €600K | €800K | -0.16 | Fair Value |
Harry Amass Norwich City | €5.0M | €800K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Victor Kristiansen Leicester City | €14.0M | €800K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Ziyad Larkeche Queens Park Rangers | €800K | €800K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Zak Sturge Millwall FC | €800K | €800K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Ishé Samuels-Smith Swansea City | €700K | €800K | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Ben Chrisene Norwich City | €1.5M | €800K | +0.56 | Above Market |
Juan Larios Southampton FC | €2.0M | €800K | +0.96 | Above Market |
Thierry Small Preston North End | €3.0M | €800K | +1.76 | Premium |