It is an indisputable fact that footballers are the most valuable asset of any soccer club. This is the reason why a lot of players’ services these days are worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The value of any footballer varies depending on skillset, age, individual achievements, and the overall league they play in. The criteria for determining the market value of a player are numerous, but here are a few you should know about.
Position they play
The position on the field of play of any player usually affects who much a player will potentially cost. It’s not uncommon to find strikers and midfielders, being sold for higher amounts, than say defenders or goalkeepers because it is believed, that the aforementioned players are very important for any successful team that wants to win a football match. Examples of this abound, with players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland, who were bought for millions of euros, in comparison to signings like Ruben Diad and Harry Maguire.
Age
The age of a player also plays a significant part in determining the market value of a player. Younger talented footballers tend to cost more than older players because it’s believed that you’re not buying him for his current level of performance but also for his potential performances in the future because it is generally believed that young players would improve over a period of time. We can see examples in players like Kylian Mbappe and Jadon Sancho, who are being courted with record-breaking amounts of transfer money. Football veterans like Thiago Silva, Dani Alves, Fernandinho, Franck Ribery and Andres Iniesta, will have a lesser market value.
Contract Duration
The duration of a player’s contract also affects market value, because by signing a footballer who has a long contract, you are effectively buying the value of that contract, including salary and bonuses.
Skills
This is the most obvious factor that affects player valuation. The more talented and skillful a player is, the higher his transfer will be. That is why the best players, whether they are goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, or attackers, are usually always bought with the largest amounts of money compared to other players. If such players also have a proven track record wherever they have played in terms of trophies won or individual accolades they will attract bigger offers. Neymar’s talent and skillfulness made his market value to soar, and that was why PSG paid €222m for him.
League
The competitiveness of a league competition is another huge determinant of a player’s market value. Leagues like the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, or German Bundesliga, usually attract higher transfer fees, because it is believed such players have been tried and tested against the best of the best, and as such, have proven to be top quality.
Brand and Popularity
The popularity and status of your potential signing is another huge factor that usually drives up player valuation. A player who has achieved superstar status on and off the pitch would definitely attract bigger fees because of their ability to draw more fans to the club they are signing for. Players like David Beckham when he moved to Real Madrid from Manchester United are examples of how the power of a brand can affect the transfer fee. Another example, was the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus. His brand name, social media following and popularity played a role in Juventus paying €100m for him
