Complete update
Ahead of the 2022 World Cup, Transfermarkt is updating all of the major European leagues and as such over 100 players in Ligue 1 have now seen their market values increase. While many of the French top-flight’s established players haven’t seen significant changes, some exciting new faces are getting their shot in the spotlight.
One such example is none other than 17-year-old Désiré Doué of Stade Rennais, who gained an enormous increase. The attacking midfielder already saw a €3.5 million increase in the September update, but the French talent has gone from strength to strength since then. So far this season, the young star has picked up big performances both domestically and internationally, scoring important goals against Nantes, Brest and Dynamo Kiev.
“Although he just extended his contract with the club until 2025, Doué is likely to become a big topic on the transfer market soon,” Ronan Caroff, TM’s area manager in France, said. According to the expert, the almost fourfold increase in value from €4 million to €15m is “just a taste” of what the future could hold for Doué. Only Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel – who was also once a Stade Rennais player – can lay claim to a higher market value at the age of 17.
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The market value increase for Doué reflects a larger trend at Rennes, who have seen their overall squad value also improved significantly. Arnaud Kalimuendo (+€5m), Martin Terrier (+€3m), Amine Gouiri (+€3m), Adrien Truffert (+€3m), Lovro Majer (+€2m) and Arthur Theate (+€2m) have all also received improved values due to their start to the season.
“All these upgrades reflect the great form Stade Rennais have shown in recent months, going unbeaten for 14 games, which is the longest run in the club’s history. In addition, all these players are also upgraded because of the potential that still lies dormant in them,” Caroff stresses. “All the upgrades are logical if we look at them individually. If Rennes sell any of them soon, it will be at a high price.”
The biggest winners of the Ligue 1 update (November 2022)
However, one player that could generate even more hype in the future is Monaco central defender Benoît Badiashile. Now a regular for the Ligue 1 side and showing consistently impressive performances, the 21-year-old talent recently received his first call up to the France national team this year and could yet make the 2022 World Cup squad. As such, the Monaco youth product has seen his market value increase from €30m to €40m. Such an increase could prove significant for the young talent, who is now worth more than Kylian Mbappé was when he used to sport the red and white of Monaco. As such, Badiashile is already the second most valuable player to come out of the club’s youth academy.
Balogun sees market value double – PSG stars struggle to impress further
The increase in value of Folarin Balogun of Stade Reims is no less impressive. The 21-year-old on loan from Arsenal is doing a remarkable job in the Rémois’ attack in what has otherwise been a difficult season for the team. He has seven goals and two assists in 13 appearances. “He’s one of the players that keeps them above the relegation zone,” says Caroff, referring to Reims’ lucky find, who doubles his value from €7m to €14m, ranking him among the ten most valuable English players abroad. “Balogun’s season so far should attract interest in the market if he returns to Arsenal after his loan.”
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That was in strong contrast to Paris Saint-Germain’s, who can celebrate only two notable market value increases in their first team squad. Nuno Mendes undoubtedly stands out due to his impressive ranking in the Kopa Trophy (sixth) and Golden Boy Award (fifth) and as such has seen his value rise from €50m to €60m. Vitinha, who saw a €5m upgrade to €45m, was the only other notable PSG player to receive an increase. “They are all PSG players, and their club performances in all competitions are what we could expect from them,” notes Caroff. “Therefore, for now, no change seems absolutely necessary. Instead, it’s more exciting to wait for the World Cup and then adjust individual values with more foresight.”
However, there was room for some decreases in market value. A crowded squad in the French capital means the likes of Carlos Soler (-€5m to €35m), as well as Renato Sanches and Hugo Ekitiké (-€3m to €25m) have struggled for game time and have such seen their market values diminish at the French giants.
How Transfermarkt market values work
The Transfermarkt market values are calculated, taking into account various pricing models. A major factor is the Transfermarkt community, whose members discuss and evaluate player market values in detail. In general, the Transfermarkt market values are not to be equated with transfer fees.
The goal is not to predict a price but an expected value of a player in a free market. Both individual transfer modalities and situational conditions are relevant in determining market values. Examples of this are listed below. Transfermarkt does not use an algorithm (you can find the detailed market value definition here).
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