Best U23 Young Defensive Midfielders in the Serie A
7 players aged 23 or under · ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Best Young Defensive Midfielders in the Serie A (Apr 2026)
Ranked by Analytical Strength Score
Market Overview: Serie A Young Defensive Midfielders 2022-23
Our database tracked 7 Serie A Young Defensive Midfielders in the 2022-23 season, representing 7 clubs with a combined market value of €86.5M. The average market value for Serie A Young Defensive Midfielders was €12.4M, with the average age at 22.0 years old.
The most valuable young defensive midfielder in the Serie A was Ardon Jashari, worth €32.0M and played for AC Milan at 23 years old. The top 5 Young Defensive Midfielders averaged €15.2M in market value, including Máximo Perrone and Mandela Keita.
Age distribution showed the youngest tracked young defensive midfielder was Luca Lipani (20 years, US Sassuolo, €4.5M), while the oldest was Ardon Jashari (23 years, AC Milan, €32.0M). Research shows Young Defensive Midfielders typically peak at age 26-27.
Historical analysis showed 7 Young Defensive 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 Serie A market for Young Defensive Midfielders 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 Serie A
Interactive bubble chart showing predicted 2-year growth vs current age for all Serie A Young Defensive Midfielders. Identify undervalued assets and track market momentum across 7 clubs with €86.5M combined value.
Age Distribution: Serie A Young Defensive Midfielders
The Serie A CDM market shows 2 distinct age segments, with the largest cohort in the 21-23 bracket (6 players, 86% of market). The 21-23 age group holds the most value at €82.0M, averaging €13.7M per player.
Top Young Defensive Midfielders by Age Bracket
U21 Years (1 players)
21-23 Years (6 players)
Market Value Distribution
Elite Tier Concentration
The top 1 Young Defensive Midfielders (14% of players) control €32.0M
Market Tiers
Market structure shows distributed value with premium (€30-50m) tier representing 14% of the Serie A CDM pool.
Premium (€30-50M)
High (€15-30M)
Mid (€5-15M)
Club Distribution: Serie A Young Defensive Midfielders
Among 7 Serie A clubs, AC Milan leads with 1 Young Defensive Midfielders worth €32.0M (averaging €32.0M per player). The top 10 clubs account for 100% of tracked Young Defensive Midfielders.
AC Milan (1 Young Defensive Midfielders)
Como 1907 (1 Young Defensive Midfielders)
Parma Calcio 1913 (1 Young Defensive Midfielders)
SS Lazio (1 Young Defensive Midfielders)
Player Rankings
Ranked by APE Strength Score. Click any player to view full profile, or click the chart icon to see value history.
Ardon Jashari
AC Milan • 23 years old
€27.7M
€32.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €35.3M
84.0
Máximo Perrone
Como 1907 • 23 years old
€13.0M
€15.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €15.9M
70.8
Mandela Keita
Parma Calcio 1913 • 23 years old
€10.4M
€12.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €12.7M
68.0
Reda Belahyane
SS Lazio • 21 years old
€8.6M
€10.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €11.5M
61.3
Ibrahim Sulemana
Bologna FC 1909 • 22 years old
€6.1M
€7.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €7.7M
57.2
Matteo Prati
Cagliari Calcio • 22 years old
€5.2M
€6.0M
+15.6%
Expected: €6.6M
55.2
Luca Lipani
US Sassuolo • 20 years old
€3.9M
€4.5M
+15.6%
Expected: €5.4M
50.7
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)
AC Milan's Ardon Jashari at 23 years old has the highest Pre-Peak Value Efficiency at 2.67×. That means Ardon Jashari is valued 2.67× higher than the median player in the 21-23 age bracket—representing exceptional value before reaching peak age.
In second is Como 1907's Máximo Perrone, who is 23 years old, with a 1.25× PPVE. Third is Mandela Keita of Parma Calcio 1913, who is 23 years old with a 1.00× 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 2.67× means the player is worth 167% 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 | Ardon Jashari AC Milan | 23 | 21-23 | €32.0M | €12.0M | 2.67× |
| #2 | Máximo Perrone Como 1907 | 23 | 21-23 | €15.0M | €12.0M | 1.25× |
| #3 | Mandela Keita Parma Calcio 1913 | 23 | 21-23 | €12.0M | €12.0M | 1.00× |
| #4 | Luca Lipani US Sassuolo | 20 | U21 | €4.5M | €4.5M | 1.00× |
| #5 | Reda Belahyane SS Lazio | 21 | 21-23 | €10.0M | €12.0M | 0.83× |
| #6 | Ibrahim Sulemana Bologna FC 1909 | 22 | 21-23 | €7.0M | €12.0M | 0.58× |
| #7 | Matteo Prati Cagliari Calcio | 22 | 21-23 | €6.0M | €12.0M | 0.50× |
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)
US Sassuolo's Luca Lipani at 20 years old has the highest Return-to-Peak Potential at +40%. That means Luca Lipani is projected to appreciate 40% as they reach their peak age in 6 years—representing significant upside before entering their prime.
In second is SS Lazio's Reda Belahyane, who is 21 years old, with a +35% RPP (5 years to peak). Third is Matteo Prati of Cagliari Calcio, who is 22 years old with a +30% RPP (4 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 | Luca Lipani US Sassuolo | 20 | 6 | €4.5M | €7.5M | +40% |
| #2 | Reda Belahyane SS Lazio | 21 | 5 | €10.0M | €15.5M | +35% |
| #3 | Matteo Prati Cagliari Calcio | 22 | 4 | €6.0M | €8.6M | +30% |
| #4 | Ibrahim Sulemana Bologna FC 1909 | 22 | 4 | €7.0M | €10.1M | +30% |
| #5 | Ardon Jashari AC Milan | 23 | 3 | €32.0M | €42.8M | +25% |
| #6 | Máximo Perrone Como 1907 | 23 | 3 | €15.0M | €20.1M | +25% |
| #7 | Mandela Keita Parma Calcio 1913 | 23 | 3 | €12.0M | €16.0M | +25% |
Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
Upside potential weighted against forecast uncertainty. Higher RAU = better risk-reward profile.
Understanding Risk-Adjusted Upside (RAU)
US Sassuolo's Luca Lipani has the highest Risk-Adjusted Upside at 58.0. That means Luca Lipani has 19% upside potential with only 0% forecast uncertainty—representing excellent risk-reward for value appreciation.
In second is SS Lazio's Reda Belahyane with a 46.3 RAU (15% upside, 0% uncertainty). Third is Ibrahim Sulemana of Bologna FC 1909 with a 38.7 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 | Luca Lipani US Sassuolo | €5.4M | €4.6M-6.1M | +19% | 58.0 |
| #2 | Reda Belahyane SS Lazio | €11.5M | €9.9M-13.0M | +15% | 46.3 |
| #3 | Ibrahim Sulemana Bologna FC 1909 | €7.7M | €6.8M-8.6M | +10% | 38.7 |
| #4 | Matteo Prati Cagliari Calcio | €6.6M | €5.8M-7.4M | +10% | 38.7 |
| #5 | Ardon Jashari AC Milan | €35.3M | €31.0M-39.5M | +10% | 38.4 |
| #6 | Máximo Perrone Como 1907 | €15.9M | €14.0M-17.8M | +6% | 23.0 |
| #7 | Mandela Keita Parma Calcio 1913 | €12.7M | €11.2M-14.2M | +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 defensive midfielder 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)
AC Milan's Ardon Jashari in the 21-23 age bracket has the highest Age-Share Concentration at +9.1%. That means Ardon Jashari captures 94.8% of total market value while representing only 85.7% of players in their age group—showing dominant elite status.
In second is Como 1907's Máximo Perrone with a +9.1% ASC (94.8% value share vs 85.7% player share in 21-23 bracket). Third is Mandela Keita of Parma Calcio 1913 with a +9.1% ASC (94.8% value vs 85.7% players in 21-23 bracket).
How ASC is calculated: ASC = (% of total value) - (% of total players) in age bracket. A +9.1% ASC means the player captures 9.1% 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 | Ardon Jashari AC Milan | 21-23 | 94.8% | 85.7% | +9.1% |
| #2 | Máximo Perrone Como 1907 | 21-23 | 94.8% | 85.7% | +9.1% |
| #3 | Mandela Keita Parma Calcio 1913 | 21-23 | 94.8% | 85.7% | +9.1% |
| #4 | Matteo Prati Cagliari Calcio | 21-23 | 94.8% | 85.7% | +9.1% |
| #5 | Ibrahim Sulemana Bologna FC 1909 | 21-23 | 94.8% | 85.7% | +9.1% |
| #6 | Reda Belahyane SS Lazio | 21-23 | 94.8% | 85.7% | +9.1% |
| #7 | Luca Lipani US Sassuolo | U21 | 5.2% | 14.3% | -9.1% |
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: 1 immediate targets, 6 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 €32.0M. 0 undervalued, 0 premium.
Value Positioning vs Peers
| Player | Market Value | Position Median | Z-Score | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Matteo Prati Cagliari Calcio | €6.0M | €10.0M | -0.80 | Good Value |
Ibrahim Sulemana Bologna FC 1909 | €7.0M | €10.0M | -0.60 | Good Value |
Ardon Jashari AC Milan | €32.0M | €10.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Máximo Perrone Como 1907 | €15.0M | €10.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Luca Lipani US Sassuolo | €4.5M | €10.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Reda Belahyane SS Lazio | €10.0M | €10.0M | 0.00 | Fair Value |
Mandela Keita Parma Calcio 1913 | €12.0M | €10.0M | +0.40 | Fair Value |