Best U23 Young Midfielders in the Ligue 1
17 players aged 23 or under · ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Best Young Midfielders in the Ligue 1 (Apr 2026)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: Ligue 1 Young Midfielders 2026-27
Our database tracked 17 Ligue 1 Young Midfielders in the 2026-27 season, representing 12 clubs with a combined market value of €260.2M. The average market value for Ligue 1 Young Midfielders was €15.3M, with the average age at 20.9 years old.
The most valuable young midfielder in the Ligue 1 was João Neves, worth €80.0M and played for Paris Saint-Germain at 21 years old. The top 5 Young Midfielders averaged €40.0M in market value, including Warren Zaïre-Emery and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked young midfielder was Ayyoub Bouaddi (18 years, LOSC Lille, €28.0M), while the oldest was Mamadou Sangaré (23 years, RC Lens, €6.0M). Research shows Young Midfielders typically peak at age 26-27.
Historical analysis showed 17 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 Ligue 1 market for Young Midfielders 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 Ligue 1
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all Ligue 1 Young Midfielders. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 12 clubs with €260.2M combined value.
Age Distribution: Ligue 1 Young Midfielders
The Ligue 1 CM market shows 2 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 21-23 bracket (12 players, 71% of market). The 21-23 age group holds the most value at €147.2M, averaging €12.3M per player.
Top Young Midfielders by Age Bracket
U21 Years (5 players)
21-23 Years (12 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 2 Young Midfielders (12% of players) control €135.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with elite (€50m+) tier representing 12% of the Ligue 1 CM pool.
Elite (€50M+)
High (€15-30M)
Mid (€5-15M)
Club Distribution: Ligue 1 Young Midfielders
Among 12 Ligue 1 clubs, Paris Saint-Germain leads with 3 Young Midfielders worth €150.0M (averaging €50.0M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 88% of tracked Young Midfielders.
Paris Saint-Germain (3 Young Midfielders)
LOSC Lille (2 Young Midfielders)
AS Monaco (2 Young Midfielders)
RC Strasbourg Alsace (2 Young Midfielders)
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%
Expected: €91.8M
93.3
Warren Zaïre-Emery
Paris Saint-Germain • 20 years old
€47.6M
€55.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €65.6M
88.5
Ayyoub Bouaddi
LOSC Lille • 18 years old
€24.2M
€28.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €34.6M
75.2
Lamine Camara
AS Monaco • 22 years old
€19.0M
€22.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €23.3M
74.6
Senny Mayulu
Paris Saint-Germain • 19 years old
€13.0M
€15.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €17.9M
68.2
Valentín Barco
RC Strasbourg Alsace • 21 years old
€10.4M
€12.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €13.2M
66.4
Mathis Amougou
RC Strasbourg Alsace • 20 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €11.5M
60.0
Djaoui Cissé
Stade Rennais FC • 22 years old
€6.9M
€8.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €8.5M
58.4
Kévin Danois
AJ Auxerre • 21 years old
€6.9M
€8.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €8.8M
57.8
Mamadou Sangaré
RC Lens • 23 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.4M
55.4
Bilal Nadir
Olympique Marseille • 22 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.3M
52.6
Arthur Avom
FC Lorient • 21 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.5M
52.0
Ethan Mbappé
LOSC Lille • 19 years old
€4.3M
€5.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.0M
50.7
Louis Mouton
Angers SCO • 23 years old
€605K
€700K
+15.6%
Expected: €749K
25.1
Mamadou Coulibaly
AS Monaco • 22 years old
€173K
€200K
+15.6%
Expected: €212K
8.9
Dehmaine Tabibou
FC Nantes • 21 years old
€173K
€200K
+15.6%
Expected: €221K
8.3
Simon Ebonog
Le Havre AC • 21 years old
€130K
€150K
+15.6%
Expected: €165K
4.7
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 13.33×. That means João Neves is valued 13.33× 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 3.67× PPVE. Third is Lamine Camara of AS Monaco, who is 22 years old with a 3.67× 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 13.33× means the player is worth 1233% 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 | João Neves Paris Saint-Germain | 21 | 21-23 | €80.0M | €6.0M | 13.33× |
| #2 | Warren Zaïre-Emery Paris Saint-Germain | 20 | U21 | €55.0M | €15.0M | 3.67× |
| #3 | Lamine Camara AS Monaco | 22 | 21-23 | €22.0M | €6.0M | 3.67× |
| #4 | Valentín Barco RC Strasbourg Alsace | 21 | 21-23 | €12.0M | €6.0M | 2.00× |
| #5 | Ayyoub Bouaddi LOSC Lille | 18 | U21 | €28.0M | €15.0M | 1.87× |
| #6 | Kévin Danois AJ Auxerre | 21 | 21-23 | €8.0M | €6.0M | 1.33× |
| #7 | Djaoui Cissé Stade Rennais FC | 22 | 21-23 | €8.0M | €6.0M | 1.33× |
| #8 | Mamadou Sangaré RC Lens | 23 | 21-23 | €6.0M | €6.0M | 1.00× |
| #9 | Senny Mayulu Paris Saint-Germain | 19 | U21 | €15.0M | €15.0M | 1.00× |
| #10 | Arthur Avom FC Lorient | 21 | 21-23 | €5.0M | €6.0M | 0.83× |
| #11 | Bilal Nadir Olympique Marseille | 22 | 21-23 | €5.0M | €6.0M | 0.83× |
| #12 | Mathis Amougou RC Strasbourg Alsace | 20 | U21 | €10.0M | €15.0M | 0.67× |
| #13 | Ethan Mbappé LOSC Lille | 19 | U21 | €5.0M | €15.0M | 0.33× |
| #14 | Louis Mouton Angers SCO | 23 | 21-23 | €700K | €6.0M | 0.12× |
| #15 | Dehmaine Tabibou FC Nantes | 21 | 21-23 | €200K | €6.0M | 0.03× |
| #16 | Mamadou Coulibaly AS Monaco | 22 | 21-23 | €200K | €6.0M | 0.03× |
| #17 | Simon Ebonog Le Havre AC | 21 | 21-23 | €150K | €6.0M | 0.02× |
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)
LOSC Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi 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 Paris Saint-Germain's Senny Mayulu, who is 19 years old, with a +40% RPP (7 years to peak). Third is Ethan Mbappé of LOSC Lille, who is 19 years old with a +40% RPP (7 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
| Rank | Player | Age | Years to Peak | Current | Peak Forecast | RPP % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ayyoub Bouaddi LOSC Lille | 18 | 8 | €28.0M | €50.0M | +44% |
| #2 | Senny Mayulu Paris Saint-Germain | 19 | 7 | €15.0M | €24.9M | +40% |
| #3 | Ethan Mbappé LOSC Lille | 19 | 7 | €5.0M | €8.3M | +40% |
| #4 | Mathis Amougou RC Strasbourg Alsace | 20 | 6 | €10.0M | €15.5M | +35% |
| #5 | Warren Zaïre-Emery Paris Saint-Germain | 20 | 6 | €55.0M | €85.0M | +35% |
| #6 | Kévin Danois AJ Auxerre | 21 | 5 | €8.0M | €11.5M | +30% |
| #7 | Arthur Avom FC Lorient | 21 | 5 | €5.0M | €7.2M | +30% |
| #8 | João Neves Paris Saint-Germain | 21 | 5 | €80.0M | €115.0M | +30% |
| #9 | Simon Ebonog Le Havre AC | 21 | 5 | €150K | €216K | +30% |
| #10 | Dehmaine Tabibou FC Nantes | 21 | 5 | €200K | €287K | +30% |
| #11 | Valentín Barco RC Strasbourg Alsace | 21 | 5 | €12.0M | €17.2M | +30% |
| #12 | Bilal Nadir Olympique Marseille | 22 | 4 | €5.0M | €6.7M | +25% |
| #13 | Lamine Camara AS Monaco | 22 | 4 | €22.0M | €29.4M | +25% |
| #14 | Djaoui Cissé Stade Rennais FC | 22 | 4 | €8.0M | €10.7M | +25% |
| #15 | Mamadou Coulibaly AS Monaco | 22 | 4 | €200K | €267K | +25% |
| #16 | Louis Mouton Angers SCO | 23 | 3 | €700K | €870K | +20% |
| #17 | Mamadou Sangaré RC Lens | 23 | 3 | €6.0M | €7.5M | +20% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
LOSC Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 68.9. That means Ayyoub Bouaddi has 23% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is Paris Saint-Germain's Warren Zaïre-Emery with a 58.7 RAU (19% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Ethan Mbappé of LOSC Lille with a 58.0 RAU (19% 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
| Rank | Player | Expected | Range | Upside % | RAU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ayyoub Bouaddi LOSC Lille | €34.6M | €29.8M-39.3M | +23% | 68.9 |
| #2 | Warren Zaïre-Emery Paris Saint-Germain | €65.6M | €56.6M-74.7M | +19% | 58.7 |
| #3 | Ethan Mbappé LOSC Lille | €6.0M | €5.1M-6.8M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #4 | Senny Mayulu Paris Saint-Germain | €17.9M | €15.4M-20.3M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #5 | João Neves Paris Saint-Germain | €91.8M | €79.1M-104.5M | +15% | 46.6 |
| #6 | Mathis Amougou RC Strasbourg Alsace | €11.5M | €9.9M-13.0M | +15% | 46.3 |
| #7 | Arthur Avom FC Lorient | €5.5M | €4.8M-6.3M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #8 | Valentín Barco RC Strasbourg Alsace | €13.2M | €11.4M-15.1M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #9 | Simon Ebonog Le Havre AC | €165K | €143K-188K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #10 | Kévin Danois AJ Auxerre | €8.8M | €7.6M-10.0M | +10% | 33.7 |
| #11 | Dehmaine Tabibou FC Nantes | €221K | €190K-251K | +10% | 33.7 |
| #12 | Louis Mouton Angers SCO | €749K | €660K-839K | +7% | 27.5 |
| #13 | Mamadou Sangaré RC Lens | €6.4M | €5.7M-7.2M | +7% | 27.5 |
| #14 | Djaoui Cissé Stade Rennais FC | €8.5M | €7.5M-9.5M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #15 | Lamine Camara AS Monaco | €23.3M | €20.5M-26.1M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #16 | Mamadou Coulibaly AS Monaco | €212K | €186K-237K | +6% | 23.0 |
| #17 | Bilal Nadir Olympique Marseille | €5.3M | €4.7M-5.9M | +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 midfielder 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)
FC Nantes's Dehmaine Tabibou in the 21-23 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +-14.0%. That means João Neves captures 56.6% of total market value while representing only 70.6% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is FC Lorient's Arthur Avom with a +-14.0% ASC (56.6% value share vs 70.6% player share in 21-23 bracket). Third is Bilal Nadir of Olympique Marseille with a +-14.0% ASC (56.6% value vs 70.6% players in 21-23 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +-14.0% ASC means the player captures -14.0% 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 | Dehmaine Tabibou FC Nantes | 21-23 | 56.6% | 70.6% | -14.0% |
| #2 | Arthur Avom FC Lorient | 21-23 | 56.6% | 70.6% | -14.0% |
| #3 | Bilal Nadir Olympique Marseille | 21-23 | 56.6% | 70.6% | -14.0% |
| #4 | João Neves Paris Saint-Germain | 21-23 | 56.6% | 70.6% | -14.0% |
| #5 | Kévin Danois AJ Auxerre | 21-23 | 56.6% | 70.6% | -14.0% |
| #6 | Mamadou Coulibaly AS Monaco | 21-23 | 56.6% | 70.6% | -14.0% |
| #7 | Simon Ebonog Le Havre AC | 21-23 | 56.6% | 70.6% | -14.0% |
| #8 | Mamadou Sangaré RC Lens | 21-23 | 56.6% | 70.6% | -14.0% |
| #9 | Valentín Barco RC Strasbourg Alsace | 21-23 | 56.6% | 70.6% | -14.0% |
| #10 | Louis Mouton Angers SCO | 21-23 | 56.6% | 70.6% | -14.0% |
| #11 | Lamine Camara AS Monaco | 21-23 | 56.6% | 70.6% | -14.0% |
| #12 | Djaoui Cissé Stade Rennais FC | 21-23 | 56.6% | 70.6% | -14.0% |
| #13 | Mathis Amougou RC Strasbourg Alsace | U21 | 43.4% | 29.4% | +14.0% |
| #14 | Ayyoub Bouaddi LOSC Lille | U21 | 43.4% | 29.4% | +14.0% |
| #15 | Warren Zaïre-Emery Paris Saint-Germain | U21 | 43.4% | 29.4% | +14.0% |
| #16 | Ethan Mbappé LOSC Lille | U21 | 43.4% | 29.4% | +14.0% |
| #17 | Senny Mayulu Paris Saint-Germain | U21 | 43.4% | 29.4% | +14.0% |
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: 4 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 €80.0M. 0 undervalued, 0 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Arthur Avom FC Lorient | €5.0M | €8.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Bilal Nadir Olympique Marseille | €5.0M | €8.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Ethan Mbappé LOSC Lille | €5.0M | €8.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Senny Mayulu Paris Saint-Germain | €15.0M | €8.0M | -1.00 | Good Value |
Mamadou Sangaré RC Lens | €6.0M | €8.0M | -0.67 | Good Value |
Simon Ebonog Le Havre AC | €150K | €8.0M | -0.10 | Fair Value |
Dehmaine Tabibou FC Nantes | €200K | €8.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Mathis Amougou RC Strasbourg Alsace | €10.0M | €8.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Ayyoub Bouaddi LOSC Lille | €28.0M | €8.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
João Neves Paris Saint-Germain | €80.0M | €8.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Kévin Danois AJ Auxerre | €8.0M | €8.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Mamadou Coulibaly AS Monaco | €200K | €8.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Warren Zaïre-Emery Paris Saint-Germain | €55.0M | €8.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Lamine Camara AS Monaco | €22.0M | €8.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Djaoui Cissé Stade Rennais FC | €8.0M | €8.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Louis Mouton Angers SCO | €700K | €8.0M | +1.00 | Above Market |
Valentín Barco RC Strasbourg Alsace | €12.0M | €8.0M | +1.33 | Above Market |