Anyone wanting to sign Neymar this January is going to need deep pockets and a sure fire way of making a return on their €246.8m investment. That’s the price put on the Brazilian’s head by researchers at CIES Football Observatory, and places him far ahead of his Barcelona teammate, Lionel Messi (€170.5m) and Manchester United’s Paul Pogba (€155.3m).
Since 2012, the CIES Football Observatory research team has developed a unique approach to estimate on a scientific basis the transfer value of professional football players. The statistical model through which fair prices are calculated includes multiple variables on player performance (minutes, goals, etc.) and characteristics (age, contract, etc.), as well as data on employer clubs and potential recruiting ones. In the list of TOP 100 players, 42 ply their trade in the English Premier League with Tottenham’s Harry Kane in 6th place valued at €139.2m, teammate Dele Alli in 9th at €110.5m and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard in 10th valued at €101.5m
The highest values per position across the big five league in Europe were recorded for Jan Oblak among goalkeepers (€59.8m), Raphaël Varane among centre backs (€64m), Héctor Bellerín among full backs (€70.3m), Paul Pogba among central midfielders (€155.3m), Dele Alli among attacking midfielders (€110.5m) and Neymar among forwards (€246.8m).
FCBusiness