Best U23 Young Centre-Backs in the Ligue 1
25 players aged 23 or under · ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Best Young Centre-Backs in the Ligue 1 (Apr 2026)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: Ligue 1 Young Centre-Backs 2025-26
Our database tracks 25 Ligue 1 Young Centre-Backs in the 2025-26 season, representing 13 clubs with a combined market value of €227.2M. The average market value for Ligue 1 Young Centre-Backs is €9.1M, with the average age at 21.7 years old.
The most valuable young centre-back in the Ligue 1 is Ilya Zabarnyi, worth €42.0M and playing for Paris Saint-Germain at 23 years old. The top 5 Young Centre-Backs average €24.2M in market value, including Lucas Beraldo and Mamadou Sarr.
Age distribution shows the youngest tracked young centre-back is Lucas Høgsberg (19 years, RC Strasbourg Alsace, €3.5M), while the oldest is Ilya Zabarnyi (23 years, Paris Saint-Germain, €42.0M). Research shows Young Centre-Backs typically peak at age 27.
Our 1-year forecast model projects 25 Young Centre-Backs (100%) will increase in market value over the next 12 months based on age-curve trajectories, current performance trends, and playing time analysis. The Ligue 1 market for Young Centre-Backs remains actively developing with emerging talent in the 2025-26 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 Ligue 1
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all Ligue 1 Young Centre-Backs. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 13 clubs with €227.2M combined value.
Age Distribution: Ligue 1 Young Centre-Backs
The Ligue 1 CB market shows 2 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 21-23 bracket (19 players, 76% of market). The 21-23 age group holds the most value at €181.9M, averaging €9.6M per player.
Top Young Centre-Backs by Age Bracket
U21 Years (6 players)
21-23 Years (19 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 3 Young Centre-Backs (12% of players) control €87.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with premium (€30-50m) tier representing 4% of the Ligue 1 CB pool.
Premium (€30-50M)
High (€15-30M)
Mid (€5-15M)
Club Distribution: Ligue 1 Young Centre-Backs
Among 13 Ligue 1 clubs, Paris Saint-Germain leads with 2 Young Centre-Backs worth €67.0M (averaging €33.5M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 72% of tracked Young Centre-Backs.
Paris Saint-Germain (2 Young Centre-Backs)
RC Strasbourg Alsace (6 Young Centre-Backs)
Olympique Marseille (1 Young Centre-Backs)
AS Monaco (1 Young Centre-Backs)
Player Rankings
Ranked by APE Strength Score. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.
Ilya Zabarnyi
Paris Saint-Germain • 23 years old
€36.3M
€42.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €46.8M
87.0
Lucas Beraldo
Paris Saint-Germain • 22 years old
€21.6M
€25.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €26.5M
76.3
Mamadou Sarr
RC Strasbourg Alsace • 20 years old
€17.3M
€20.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €22.9M
72.2
Ismaël Doukouré
RC Strasbourg Alsace • 22 years old
€15.6M
€18.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €19.1M
72.1
CJ Egan-Riley
Olympique Marseille • 23 years old
€13.8M
€16.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €17.1M
71.2
Christian Mawissa
AS Monaco • 21 years old
€13.0M
€15.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €16.5M
69.2
Charlie Cresswell
FC Toulouse • 23 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €10.7M
61.8
Abakar Sylla
RC Strasbourg Alsace • 23 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €10.7M
61.8
Jérémy Jacquet
Stade Rennais FC • 20 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €11.5M
60.0
Andrew Omobamidele
RC Strasbourg Alsace • 23 years old
€6.9M
€8.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €8.6M
59.0
Soumaïla Coulibaly
Stade Brestois 29 • 22 years old
€6.9M
€8.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €8.5M
58.4
Isaak Touré
FC Lorient • 23 years old
€6.1M
€7.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €7.5M
57.4
Saïdou Sow
RC Strasbourg Alsace • 23 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.4M
55.4
Juma Bah
OGC Nice • 20 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.9M
53.6
Sadibou Sané
FC Metz • 21 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.5M
52.0
Junior Diaz
Stade Brestois 29 • 22 years old
€3.5M
€4.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €4.2M
49.8
Emmanuel Biumla
Angers SCO • 20 years old
€3.5M
€4.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €4.6M
48.6
Nathan Ngoy
LOSC Lille • 22 years old
€3.0M
€3.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €3.7M
48.1
Lucas Høgsberg
RC Strasbourg Alsace • 19 years old
€3.0M
€3.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €4.2M
46.3
Nathaniel Adjei
FC Lorient • 23 years old
€1.3M
€1.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €1.6M
34.6
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 Ilya Zabarnyi at 23 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 6.00×. That means Ilya Zabarnyi is valued 6.00× 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 Lucas Beraldo, who is 22 years old, with a 3.57× PPVE. Third is Mamadou Sarr of RC Strasbourg Alsace, who is 20 years old with a 3.33× 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 6.00× means the player is worth 500% 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 | Ilya Zabarnyi Paris Saint-Germain | 23 | 21-23 | €42.0M | €7.0M | 6.00× |
| #2 | Lucas Beraldo Paris Saint-Germain | 22 | 21-23 | €25.0M | €7.0M | 3.57× |
| #3 | Mamadou Sarr RC Strasbourg Alsace | 20 | U21 | €20.0M | €6.0M | 3.33× |
| #4 | Ismaël Doukouré RC Strasbourg Alsace | 22 | 21-23 | €18.0M | €7.0M | 2.57× |
| #5 | CJ Egan-Riley Olympique Marseille | 23 | 21-23 | €16.0M | €7.0M | 2.29× |
| #6 | Christian Mawissa AS Monaco | 21 | 21-23 | €15.0M | €7.0M | 2.14× |
| #7 | Jérémy Jacquet Stade Rennais FC | 20 | U21 | €10.0M | €6.0M | 1.67× |
| #8 | Charlie Cresswell FC Toulouse | 23 | 21-23 | €10.0M | €7.0M | 1.43× |
| #9 | Abakar Sylla RC Strasbourg Alsace | 23 | 21-23 | €10.0M | €7.0M | 1.43× |
| #10 | Andrew Omobamidele RC Strasbourg Alsace | 23 | 21-23 | €8.0M | €7.0M | 1.14× |
| #11 | Soumaïla Coulibaly Stade Brestois 29 | 22 | 21-23 | €8.0M | €7.0M | 1.14× |
| #12 | Juma Bah OGC Nice | 20 | U21 | €6.0M | €6.0M | 1.00× |
| #13 | Isaak Touré FC Lorient | 23 | 21-23 | €7.0M | €7.0M | 1.00× |
| #14 | Saïdou Sow RC Strasbourg Alsace | 23 | 21-23 | €6.0M | €7.0M | 0.86× |
| #15 | Sadibou Sané FC Metz | 21 | 21-23 | €5.0M | €7.0M | 0.71× |
| #16 | Emmanuel Biumla Angers SCO | 20 | U21 | €4.0M | €6.0M | 0.67× |
| #17 | Lucas Høgsberg RC Strasbourg Alsace | 19 | U21 | €3.5M | €6.0M | 0.58× |
| #18 | Junior Diaz Stade Brestois 29 | 22 | 21-23 | €4.0M | €7.0M | 0.57× |
| #19 | Nathan Ngoy LOSC Lille | 22 | 21-23 | €3.5M | €7.0M | 0.50× |
| #20 | Nidal Celik RC Lens | 19 | U21 | €1.8M | €6.0M | 0.30× |
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)
RC Strasbourg Alsace's Lucas Høgsberg at 19 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +40%. That means Lucas Høgsberg is projected to appreciate 40% as they reach their peak age in 7 years—representing significant upside before entering their prime.
In second is RC Lens's Nidal Celik, who is 19 years old, with a +40% RPP (7 years to peak). Third is Juma Bah of OGC Nice, 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 | Lucas Høgsberg RC Strasbourg Alsace | 19 | 7 | €3.5M | €5.8M | +40% |
| #2 | Nidal Celik RC Lens | 19 | 7 | €1.8M | €3.0M | +40% |
| #3 | Juma Bah OGC Nice | 20 | 6 | €6.0M | €9.3M | +35% |
| #4 | Jérémy Jacquet Stade Rennais FC | 20 | 6 | €10.0M | €15.5M | +35% |
| #5 | Emmanuel Biumla Angers SCO | 20 | 6 | €4.0M | €6.2M | +35% |
| #6 | Mamadou Sarr RC Strasbourg Alsace | 20 | 6 | €20.0M | €30.9M | +35% |
| #7 | Ismaëlo Ganiou RC Lens | 21 | 5 | €1.0M | €1.4M | +30% |
| #8 | Ousmane Touré LOSC Lille | 21 | 5 | €500K | €719K | +30% |
| #9 | Christian Mawissa AS Monaco | 21 | 5 | €15.0M | €21.6M | +30% |
| #10 | Sadibou Sané FC Metz | 21 | 5 | €5.0M | €7.2M | +30% |
| #11 | Junior Diaz Stade Brestois 29 | 22 | 4 | €4.0M | €5.3M | +25% |
| #12 | Nathan Ngoy LOSC Lille | 22 | 4 | €3.5M | €4.7M | +25% |
| #13 | Soumaïla Coulibaly Stade Brestois 29 | 22 | 4 | €8.0M | €10.7M | +25% |
| #14 | Ismaël Doukouré RC Strasbourg Alsace | 22 | 4 | €18.0M | €24.1M | +25% |
| #15 | Lucas Beraldo Paris Saint-Germain | 22 | 4 | €25.0M | €33.4M | +25% |
| #16 | Nathaniel Adjei FC Lorient | 23 | 3 | €1.5M | €1.9M | +20% |
| #17 | Saïdou Sow RC Strasbourg Alsace | 23 | 3 | €6.0M | €7.5M | +20% |
| #18 | Charlie Cresswell FC Toulouse | 23 | 3 | €10.0M | €12.4M | +20% |
| #19 | Ilya Zabarnyi Paris Saint-Germain | 23 | 3 | €42.0M | €52.2M | +20% |
| #20 | Abakar Sylla RC Strasbourg Alsace | 23 | 3 | €10.0M | €12.4M | +20% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
RC Strasbourg Alsace's Lucas Høgsberg has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 58.0. That means Lucas Høgsberg has 19% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is RC Lens's Nidal Celik with a 58.0 RAU (19% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Emmanuel Biumla of Angers SCO 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 | Lucas Høgsberg RC Strasbourg Alsace | €4.2M | €3.6M-4.7M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #2 | Nidal Celik RC Lens | €2.1M | €1.8M-2.4M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #3 | Emmanuel Biumla Angers SCO | €4.6M | €4.0M-5.2M | +15% | 46.3 |
| #4 | Juma Bah OGC Nice | €6.9M | €5.9M-7.8M | +15% | 46.3 |
| #5 | Jérémy Jacquet Stade Rennais FC | €11.5M | €9.9M-13.0M | +15% | 46.3 |
| #6 | Mamadou Sarr RC Strasbourg Alsace | €22.9M | €19.8M-26.1M | +15% | 46.3 |
| #7 | Ilya Zabarnyi Paris Saint-Germain | €46.8M | €41.2M-52.4M | +11% | 42.8 |
| #8 | Sadibou Sané FC Metz | €5.5M | €4.8M-6.3M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #9 | Christian Mawissa AS Monaco | €16.5M | €14.3M-18.8M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #10 | Ismaëlo Ganiou RC Lens | €1.1M | €950K-1.3M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #11 | Ousmane Touré LOSC Lille | €551K | €475K-627K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #12 | CJ Egan-Riley Olympique Marseille | €17.1M | €15.1M-19.2M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #13 | Andrew Omobamidele RC Strasbourg Alsace | €8.6M | €7.5M-9.6M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #14 | Rafael Fernandes LOSC Lille | €1.1M | €942K-1.2M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #15 | Charlie Cresswell FC Toulouse | €10.7M | €9.4M-12.0M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #16 | Abakar Sylla RC Strasbourg Alsace | €10.7M | €9.4M-12.0M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #17 | Isaak Touré FC Lorient | €7.5M | €6.6M-8.4M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #18 | Nathaniel Adjei FC Lorient | €1.6M | €1.4M-1.8M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #19 | Saïdou Sow RC Strasbourg Alsace | €6.4M | €5.7M-7.2M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #20 | Ousmane Camara Angers SCO | €428K | €377K-480K | +7% | 27.5 |
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 centre-back position shows weak 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)
Stade Rennais FC's Jérémy Jacquet in the U21 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +-4.1%. That means Mamadou Sarr captures 19.9% of total market value while representing only 24.0% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is Angers SCO's Emmanuel Biumla with a +-4.1% ASC (19.9% value share vs 24.0% player share in U21 bracket). Third is Juma Bah of OGC Nice with a +-4.1% ASC (19.9% value vs 24.0% players in U21 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +-4.1% ASC means the player captures -4.1% 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 | Jérémy Jacquet Stade Rennais FC | U21 | 19.9% | 24.0% | -4.1% |
| #2 | Emmanuel Biumla Angers SCO | U21 | 19.9% | 24.0% | -4.1% |
| #3 | Juma Bah OGC Nice | U21 | 19.9% | 24.0% | -4.1% |
| #4 | Nidal Celik RC Lens | U21 | 19.9% | 24.0% | -4.1% |
| #5 | Mamadou Sarr RC Strasbourg Alsace | U21 | 19.9% | 24.0% | -4.1% |
| #6 | Lucas Høgsberg RC Strasbourg Alsace | U21 | 19.9% | 24.0% | -4.1% |
| #7 | Christian Mawissa AS Monaco | 21-23 | 80.1% | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| #8 | Junior Diaz Stade Brestois 29 | 21-23 | 80.1% | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| #9 | Ismaëlo Ganiou RC Lens | 21-23 | 80.1% | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| #10 | Sadibou Sané FC Metz | 21-23 | 80.1% | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| #11 | Nathan Ngoy LOSC Lille | 21-23 | 80.1% | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| #12 | CJ Egan-Riley Olympique Marseille | 21-23 | 80.1% | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| #13 | Charlie Cresswell FC Toulouse | 21-23 | 80.1% | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| #14 | Andrew Omobamidele RC Strasbourg Alsace | 21-23 | 80.1% | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| #15 | Nathaniel Adjei FC Lorient | 21-23 | 80.1% | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| #16 | Ilya Zabarnyi Paris Saint-Germain | 21-23 | 80.1% | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| #17 | Soumaïla Coulibaly Stade Brestois 29 | 21-23 | 80.1% | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| #18 | Isaak Touré FC Lorient | 21-23 | 80.1% | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| #19 | Rafael Fernandes LOSC Lille | 21-23 | 80.1% | 76.0% | +4.1% |
| #20 | Ismaël Doukouré RC Strasbourg Alsace | 21-23 | 80.1% | 76.0% | +4.1% |
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, 23 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 €42.0M. 0 undervalued, 0 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Juma Bah OGC Nice | €6.0M | €6.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Nidal Celik RC Lens | €1.8M | €6.0M | -0.77 | Good Value |
Sadibou Sané FC Metz | €5.0M | €6.0M | -0.75 | Good Value |
Saïdou Sow RC Strasbourg Alsace | €6.0M | €6.0M | -0.50 | Fair Value |
Christian Mawissa AS Monaco | €15.0M | €6.0M | -0.33 | Fair Value |
Isaak Touré FC Lorient | €7.0M | €6.0M | -0.25 | Fair Value |
CJ Egan-Riley Olympique Marseille | €16.0M | €6.0M | -0.22 | Fair Value |
Ousmane Camara Angers SCO | €400K | €6.0M | -0.20 | Fair Value |
Ousmane Touré LOSC Lille | €500K | €6.0M | -0.17 | Fair Value |
Jérémy Jacquet Stade Rennais FC | €10.0M | €6.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Ismaëlo Ganiou RC Lens | €1.0M | €6.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Andrew Omobamidele RC Strasbourg Alsace | €8.0M | €6.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Ilya Zabarnyi Paris Saint-Germain | €42.0M | €6.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Soumaïla Coulibaly Stade Brestois 29 | €8.0M | €6.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Rafael Fernandes LOSC Lille | €1.0M | €6.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Ismaël Doukouré RC Strasbourg Alsace | €18.0M | €6.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Mamadou Sarr RC Strasbourg Alsace | €20.0M | €6.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Lucas Høgsberg RC Strasbourg Alsace | €3.5M | €6.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Nathaniel Adjei FC Lorient | €1.5M | €6.0M | +0.17 | Fair Value |
Emmanuel Biumla Angers SCO | €4.0M | €6.0M | +0.23 | Fair Value |
