Best U23 Young Centre-Backs in the Liga Portugal
45 players aged 23 or under · ranked by Analytical Strength Index
Best Young Centre-Backs in the Liga Portugal (Sep 2026)
45 players tracked across 19 clubs. Updated September 2026.
Ranked by Analytical Strength Index
Market Overview: Liga Portugal Young Centre-Backs 2024-25
Our database tracked 45 Liga Portugal Young Centre-Backs in the 2024-25 season, representing 19 clubs with a combined market value of €172.9M. The average market value for Liga Portugal Young Centre-Backs was €3.8M, with the average age at 22 years old.
The most valuable young centre-back in the Liga Portugal was Ousmane Diomande, worth €42.0M and played for Sporting CP at 22 years old. The top 5 Young Centre-Backs averaged €23.2M in market value, including Zeno Debast and António Silva.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked young centre-back was Bastien Meupiyou (20 years, FC Alverca, €7.0M), while the oldest was Bright Arrey-Mbi (23 years, SC Braga, €9.0M). Research shows Young Centre-Backs typically peak at age 28.
Historical analysis showed 30 Young Centre-Backs (67%) increased in market value over the following 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, then-current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The Liga Portugal market for Young Centre-Backs remained actively developing with emerging talent in the 2024-25 season.
Explore Market Size by Position in Liga Portugal
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all Liga Portugal Young Centre-Backs. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 19 clubs with €172.9M combined value.
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.
Player Rankings
Ranked by Analytical Strength Index. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.
Ousmane Diomande
Sporting CP • 22 years old
€36.3M
€42.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €42.4M
86.7
Zeno Debast
Sporting CP • 22 years old
€24.2M
€28.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €28.4M
78.0
António Silva
SL Benfica • 22 years old
€21.6M
€25.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €25.4M
76.6
Ibrahima Ba
FC Famalicão • 21 years old
€10.4M
€12.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €12.2M
67.0
Bright Arrey-Mbi
SC Braga • 23 years old
€7.8M
€9.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €8.7M
60.3
Bastien Meupiyou
FC Alverca • 20 years old
€6.1M
€7.0M
+15.6%
56.2
Kévin Boma
GD Estoril Praia • 23 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
55.2
Andreas Ntoi
Rio Ave FC • 23 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
52.8
Marvin Elimbi
Gil Vicente FC • 23 years old
€3.5M
€4.0M
+15.6%
50.0
Chico Lamba
FC Arouca • 23 years old
€3.5M
€4.0M
+15.6%
50.0
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Sign up freeOusmane Diomande
Sporting CP · 22 years old
86.7
ASI
Current Value
€42.0M
% Change
+15.6%
1yr Forecast Range
€38.2M - €46.7M
Zeno Debast
Sporting CP · 22 years old
78.0
ASI
Current Value
€28.0M
% Change
+15.6%
1yr Forecast Range
€25.6M - €31.2M
António Silva
SL Benfica · 22 years old
76.6
ASI
Current Value
€25.0M
% Change
+15.6%
1yr Forecast Range
€22.8M - €27.9M
Ibrahima Ba
FC Famalicão · 21 years old
67.0
ASI
Current Value
€12.0M
% Change
+15.6%
1yr Forecast Range
€10.8M - €13.6M
Bright Arrey-Mbi
SC Braga · 23 years old
60.3
ASI
Current Value
€9.0M
% Change
+15.6%
1yr Forecast Range
€7.9M - €9.6M
Bastien Meupiyou
FC Alverca · 20 years old
56.2
ASI
Current Value
€7.0M
% Change
+15.6%
1yr Forecast Range
Kévin Boma
GD Estoril Praia · 23 years old
55.2
ASI
Current Value
€6.0M
% Change
+15.6%
1yr Forecast Range
Andreas Ntoi
Rio Ave FC · 23 years old
52.8
ASI
Current Value
€5.0M
% Change
+15.6%
1yr Forecast Range
Marvin Elimbi
Gil Vicente FC · 23 years old
50.0
ASI
Current Value
€4.0M
% Change
+15.6%
1yr Forecast Range
Chico Lamba
FC Arouca · 23 years old
50.0
ASI
Current Value
€4.0M
% Change
+15.6%
1yr Forecast Range
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Sign up freeAge Distribution: Liga Portugal Young Centre-Backs
The Liga Portugal CB market shows 2 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 21-23 bracket (39 players, 87% of market). The 21-23 age group holds the most value at €160.9M, averaging €4.1M per player.
Top Young Centre-Backs by Age Bracket
U21 Years (6 players)
21-23 Years (39 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 5 Young Centre-Backs (11% of players) control €116.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with premium (€30-50m) tier representing 2% of the Liga Portugal CB pool.
Premium (€30-50M)
High (€15-30M)
Mid (€5-15M)
Club Distribution: Liga Portugal Young Centre-Backs
Among 19 Liga Portugal clubs, Sporting CP leads with 6 Young Centre-Backs worth €72.3M (averaging €12.0M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 69% of tracked Young Centre-Backs.
Sporting CP (6 Young Centre-Backs)
SL Benfica (4 Young Centre-Backs)
FC Famalicão (3 Young Centre-Backs)
SC Braga (2 Young Centre-Backs)
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)
Sporting CP's Ousmane Diomande at 22 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 42.00×. That means Ousmane Diomande is valued 42.00× higher than the median player in the 21-23 age bracket-representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is Sporting CP's Zeno Debast, who is 22 years old, with a 28.00× PPVE. Third is António Silva of SL Benfica, who is 22 years old with a 25.00× 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 42.00× means the player is worth 4100% 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 | Ousmane Diomande Sporting CP | 22 | 21-23 | €42.0M | €1.0M | 42.00x |
| #2 | Zeno Debast Sporting CP | 22 | 21-23 | €28.0M | €1.0M | 28.00x |
| #3 | António Silva SL Benfica | 22 | 21-23 | €25.0M | €1.0M | 25.00x |
| #4 | Ibrahima Ba FC Famalicão | 21 | 21-23 | €12.0M | €1.0M | 12.00x |
| #5 | Bright Arrey-Mbi SC Braga | 23 | 21-23 | €9.0M | €1.0M | 9.00x |
| #6 | Kévin Boma GD Estoril Praia | 23 | 21-23 | €6.0M | €1.0M | 6.00x |
| #7 | Andreas Ntoi Rio Ave FC | 23 | 21-23 | €5.0M | €1.0M | 5.00x |
| #8 | Bastien Meupiyou FC Alverca | 20 | U21 | €7.0M | €1.5M | 4.67x |
| #9 | Chico Lamba FC Arouca | 23 | 21-23 | €4.0M | €1.0M | 4.00x |
| #10 | Marvin Elimbi Gil Vicente FC | 23 | 21-23 | €4.0M | €1.0M | 4.00x |
| #11 | Dominik Prpić FC Porto | 22 | 21-23 | €4.0M | €1.0M | 4.00x |
| #12 | Stefan Lekovic CF Estrela Amadora | 22 | 21-23 | €2.5M | €1.0M | 2.50x |
| #13 | Christian Marques CD Tondela | 23 | 21-23 | €2.0M | €1.0M | 2.00x |
| #14 | Nelson Abbey Rio Ave FC | 23 | 21-23 | €1.5M | €1.0M | 1.50x |
| #15 | Gilberto Batista Moreirense FC | 22 | 21-23 | €1.5M | €1.0M | 1.50x |
| #16 | Joshua Wynder SL Benfica | 21 | 21-23 | €1.5M | €1.0M | 1.50x |
| #17 | Gonçalo Oliveira SL Benfica | 20 | U21 | €2.0M | €1.5M | 1.33x |
| #18 | Jonatás Noro SC Braga | 21 | 21-23 | €1.0M | €1.0M | 1.00x |
| #19 | Otávio CF Estrela Amadora | 20 | U21 | €1.5M | €1.5M | 1.00x |
| #20 | Renan Santana FC Famalicão | 21 | 21-23 | €1.0M | €1.0M | 1.00x |
Return-to-Peak Potential (RPP)
Recovery potential from current value to forecasted peak. Shows how much upside remains for players approaching their prime.
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Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
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Upgrade to FanRoster Pressure Index (RPI)
Squad depth pressure based on Z-score distribution. Negative RPI = thin depth, positive = deep roster.
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Upgrade to FanAge-Share Concentration (ASC)
Identifies players capturing disproportionate value relative to age group representation. Positive ASC = value concentration.
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Upgrade to FanBuy-Now vs Wait-List Map
Categorizes players by age position and upside potential to guide timing of acquisition.
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Upgrade to FanPrice vs Peer Z-Score
IQR-based pricing analysis relative to position peers. Identifies over/undervalued players vs market.
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How We Rank Liga Portugal Young Centre-Backs
Our Analytical Strength Index is calibrated specifically for young centre-backs, using position-specific age curves and playing time benchmarks. The model draws from academic research on player valuation (Franck & Nüesch, 2012) and age-performance curves (Dendir, 2016).
Scoring Components for CB
Historical Achievement Index (35%)
Peak career market value for Liga Portugal young centre-backs, reflecting proven track record and reputation. Uses log-scale to account for exponential value distribution at elite level.
Current Performance Proxy (30%)
Present market value for Liga Portugal young centre-backs, capturing recent form, injuries, and current performance level. Weighted to reflect age-related depreciation patterns.
Playing Time Utilization (18%)
Defenders with 2,500+ minutes score highest, indicating regular starting role and sustained performance.
Age-Adjusted Performance Curve (12%)
Defenders peak at 28 with 5.0%/year decline rate. Pre-peak players score higher on development trajectory.
Competition Level Adjustment (3%)
Liga Portugal competition level factored into comparative strength assessment.
Performance Expectations Multiplier (2%)
Players at clubs with Champions League pedigree face higher performance standards and tactical complexity, contributing to development and market validation.
CB Performance Benchmarks
Peak Age: 28 years (balance of physicality and tactical intelligence)
Decline Rate: Widening steps, not a flat rate: about -5% at 29, -10% at 30, steeper from 31 (positioning offsets pace loss)
Optimal Minutes: 2,500 per season (regular starter with rotation management)
1-Year Market Value Forecast
Probabilistic model combining age-curve depreciation, value momentum, and playing time factors:
• Age Factor: Compounding and banded around a peak of 28: +25%/year through age 21, +15% at 22-23, +10% up to the year before peak, then -5%, -10% and steeper with each later band. Growth is damped above €30M.
• Value Trajectory: Near career peak (>95% of peak value): +3% momentum | Moderate decline: -5%
• Playing Time Factor: Regular starters (+2%), Squad rotation (-2%)
• Forecast Range: ±10% confidence interval
Research Foundation
• Dendir (2016): Age-performance curves for young centre-backs
• Carmichael et al. (2011): Player depreciation in top leagues
• Franck & Nüesch (2012): Hedonic pricing models for talent valuation
• Szymanski, S. (2015). Money and Soccer: A Soccernomics Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Liga Portugal Young Centre-Backs in the 2024-25 season
Who are the most valuable Young Centre-Backs in the Liga Portugal in 2024-25?
The most valuable young centre-back in the Liga Portugal in 2024-25 is Ousmane Diomande, who is worth €42.0M and plays for Sporting CP. The second most valuable is Zeno Debast (€28.0M, Sporting CP), followed by António Silva (€25.0M, SL Benfica). Our database tracks 45 Liga Portugal Young Centre-Backs with comprehensive market valuations updated for the 2024-25 season.
How are Liga Portugal Young Centre-Backs ranked?
Liga Portugal Young Centre-Backs are ranked by our proprietary Analytical Strength Index, which is specifically calibrated for Young Centre-Backs. The score combines six factors: Historical Achievement Index (35%) measuring peak career value, Current Performance Proxy (30%) reflecting recent market signals, Playing Time Utilization (18%) tracking minutes played, Age-Adjusted Performance Curve (12%) using position-specific peak ages, League Quality Coefficient (3%) for Liga Portugal competition level, and Club Tier Multiplier (2%) accounting for club prestige. This methodology is grounded in academic research including work by Dendir (2016) on age-performance curves and Franck & Nüesch (2012) on hedonic pricing models.
What age do Young Centre-Backs peak?
Defenders typically peak at age 28. In our valuation model, value then falls in widening steps rather than at a flat annual rate: around -5% at 29, -10% at 30, and -25% or more from 31. Research shows defenders balance physical attributes with tactical intelligence, allowing them to maintain high performance through their late 20s. The optimal playing time for peak performance is around 2,500 minutes per season.
How much does it cost to sign a top young centre-back from the Liga Portugal?
Transfer fees for Liga Portugal Young Centre-Backs vary significantly based on market value, contract length, and club bargaining position. For the top-ranked young centre-back Ousmane Diomande (market value: €42.0M), estimated transfer fees would range from €33.6M to €58.8M depending on contract situation. Players with longer contracts (3+ years) command premium fees (1.2-1.4× market value), while those in the final year may be available for 0.8-1.1× market value. Our fee estimates are derived from historical transfer patterns and contract-clock modifiers validated against actual Liga Portugal transactions.
What is the value forecast for Liga Portugal Young Centre-Backs?
Our 1-year forecast model projects market value changes for Liga Portugal Young Centre-Backs based on age-curve depreciation, historical trajectory, and playing time adjustments. The forecast combines three factors: age-based appreciation/depreciation (pre-peak players compound gains toward their position's peak age, up to +25% a year through age 21 and easing as they approach it, while post-peak players fall in widening steps), market trajectory momentum (comparing current to peak value), and playing time confidence (regular starters receive +2% boost). Forecast confidence intervals account for position-specific volatility-defenders have ±10% volatility. Young players (under 22) and older players (over 32) receive 1.15× uncertainty multipliers due to unpredictable development or decline patterns.
Where does the Liga Portugal young centre-back data come from?
Our Liga Portugal young centre-back data is sourced from Football Analytics AI's proprietary Transfer Intelligence Database, which aggregates market valuations, player statistics, contract information, and transfer histories from multiple industry sources. Market values are updated regularly based on player performance, injuries, contract negotiations, and transfer market activity. We enhance this data with our proprietary analytics including position-specific scoring algorithms, age-performance curves calibrated to academic research, and statistical forecast models. All data is validated against official Liga Portugal sources and updated monthly for the 2024-25 season to ensure accuracy for recruitment and investment decisions.