The latest Soccerex 20 Under 21 Report values the game’s best young talent, with the combined total topping €1 billion for the first time
The last 12 months have seen transfer fees rocket and records set, with Neymar’s €222 million (£198m/$258m) move to Paris Saint-Germain setting a new benchmark.
The ‘Neymar Effect’ is also in evidence in the latest 'Soccerex 20 Under 21 Report' which values players born on or after January 1, 1997.
Using the Football Value Index compiled by Prime Time Sport, the report takes into account the player’s age, position, current club, contract length, market value perception, international caps, minutes played, goals, injuries and technical quality from a variety of sources to arrive at a final valuation.
The combined total of the top 20 players has now surpassed €1bn (£892m/$1.2bn), a 66 per cent increase on 12 months ago, while there are five players who still command a place high on the list for a second year running.
Getty Images=19. Cengiz Under | Roma | €31.9m (£28.5m/$37.1m)The Turkey winger joined Roma in a €13 million deal in the summer of 2017 and he enjoyed a positive first season at Stadio Olimpico, scoring in the Champions League last-16 tie against Shakhtar Donetsk.AdvertisementGettyimages=19. Allan Saint-Maximin | Nice | €31.9m (£28.5m/$37.1m)Following loan spells at Hannover and Bastia the winger left Monaco permanently last summer to join Nice, where he demonstrated his dribbling skills and undoubted natural talent on a more consistent basis.Getty Images18. Houssem Aouar | Lyon | €34.5m (£30.8m/$40.1m)The midfielder enjoyed his breakthrough season in 2017-18, establishing himself as a key figure for Lyon. He has already been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona, and it seems likely he will eventually join the list of players who have left Lyon for big fees.Getty Images17. Patrick Cutrone | Milan | €35m (£31.2m/£40.7m)Despite a summer of lavish spending by Milan in 2017, it was a homegrown product who made the biggest impact up front in the 2017-18 season. Drawing comparisons to former Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi, Cutrone averaged a goal nearly every three games in Serie A and also made his senior Italy debut.