Championship market values: Pedro moves into second spot - Cantwell and Aarons drop
Following the relegation of Norwich, Burnley and Watford, the top tier of the market value rankings in the Championship have a new look after an intermediary update. The focus is primarily on new signings made by the 24 clubs, players who failed to move in the summer transfer window as well as those who have stood out so far this season, both positively and negatively. The next complete update of all players in the league is scheduled for the end of October.
The new most valuable player in the league is Watford forward Ismaïla Sarr, although the 24-year-old has to accept a devaluation from €27 million to €22m. As in previous transfer windows, a transfer of the Senegal forward, whom Aston Villa have shown particular interest in, fell through in the end. After the West Midlands club and Sarr could not agree personal terms, Villa head coach Steven Gerrard had second thoughts about the deal. Doubts about Sarr’s character and the return to the second-tier Championship has since lead to an inevitable downgrade.
His teammate João Pedro, on the other hand, is upgraded after failed transfer negotiations and continuing to impress on the pitch. Following offers from Everton and Newcastle worth over €30m with add-ons in the end, Watford stayed firm and kept Pedro at the club, having already sold two strikers in Emmanuel Dennis and Cucho Hernández before. The young Brazilian did not let his head drop in response and has so far been one of the key players in the team’s quest to return to the Premier League. The 20-year-old Brazilian rises from €14m to €20m for now and thus moves into second spot in the league-wide rankings, surpassing Norwich’s Todd Cantwell and Max Aarons among others.
The most valuable Championship players after the 2022/23 season
Championship market values: Cantwell and Aarons drop - Sargent on the up
After a poor last season that ended without a single goal contribution at first team level, Cantwell, now used in a central role rather than on the wing, continues to struggle with his form in the new campaign. Previously given time to rediscover his productivity from earlier days, the lack of interested clubs in the summer and mixed performances in recent matches now ensure a more significant downgrade. The 24-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan with Bournemouth, drops from €18m to €12m and slips out of the top five.
Aarons (-€4m to €18m) headed back to the Championship with Norwich for a second time as there were again no suitable offers for the right-back. A rumoured loan move to Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach, now managed by former head coach Daniel Farke, was not attractive to the Canaries, with whom the U-21 international hopes to gain promotion to the Premier League for the third time in his young career at the end of the season.
After a difficult first year in England, Norwich teammate Josh Sargent (+€2m to €9m) is shining in a new role this season. Having scored five goals and one assist in eight games so far, the US striker, who is mostly deployed as a lone centre-forward and less on the flanks now, is one of his side’s key performers. Should he continue his good form, a further upgrade as part of the complete update ahead of the World Cup in Qatar will be the next step for the 22-year-old international.
Estupiñán upgraded after strong start - Premier League loanees on the rise
While league leaders Sheffield United’s Sander Berge and Blackburn striker Ben Brereton Díaz are able to maintain their market values of €16m each, despite not moving to a top league in the summer, new signings like Óscar Estupiñán (+€2.5m to €6m) are on the rise. Having arrived from Vitória Guimarães on a free transfer, the 25-year-old centre-forward hit the ground running at Hull City, currently leading the scoring charts with seven goals from nine games. His debut for the Colombian national team in June should be followed by further appearances on the international stage and possibly another market value upgrade soon.
Burnley’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis (+€3m to €10m) is symbolic of a number of players on loan from Premier League clubs who are now in the spotlight and expected to gain important experience in the second tier. Already coached by new Clarets boss Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht, the 20-year-old defender also hopes to follow in his mentor’s giant footsteps at Manchester City in the future.
Diallo, Maatsen & Co. Loan players in the Championship Click here for overview For Man United’s Amad Diallo things keep heading in the opposite direction. Following a disappointing loan spell with Rangers, the 20-year-old hopes to get back on track at Sunderland. Currently suffering from a thigh injury, the promising youngster’s market value drops from €15m to €10m. Age-related devaluations will mainly follow in the complete update at the end of October and can be discussed in the market value analysis from now on.
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).
- Date of birth/Age:
- Sep 26, 2001 (22)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2028
- Position:
- Centre-Forward
- Market Value:
- €45.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Feb 27, 1998 (26)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Rangers FC
- Contract until:
- -
- Position:
- Left Midfield
- Market Value:
- €8.50m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Feb 25, 1998 (26)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Olympique Marseille
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2028
- Position:
- Right Winger
- Market Value:
- €20.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Dec 29, 1996 (27)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Esporte Clube Bahia
- Contract until:
- Dec 31, 2024
- Position:
- Centre-Forward
- Market Value:
- €4.00m