Bayern Munich star on top!
As we move into 2026, several wonderkids have experienced tremendous growth throughout 2025. Young talents are being given unprecedented opportunities, with clubs eager to discover the next standout player. Major teams are actively searching for future superstars, while smaller clubs look to profit by developing and selling young talent.
Lamine Yamal has established himself as the premier young talent globally, currently valued at €200 million on Transfermarkt, sharing the title of most valuable player. The 18-year-old continues to impress for both his club and national team, while other emerging stars have also made significant strides in the past year. We’ve put together a list of the top ten U21 players who have increased their market value the most throughout 2025.
Top U21 Stars with Increased Market Value in 2025
Lennart Karl made his Bundesliga debut in August with Bayern Munich and has already proven why he’s considered the best young talent in Germany. At just 17 years old, he made history by becoming the youngest player to score in three consecutive Champions League matches. After seeing his market value for the first time in June, Karl’s worth has now skyrocketed by €60 million. The graphic below shows that Dean Huijsen follows in second place, with his valuation jumping €52 million from €18 million to €70 million, and two other stars from Real Madrid also feature in the top ten.
Two players from PSG saw their market value rise by €50 million following their first Champions League title: Désiré Doué and João Neves, with Doué ranking third in the list. Yan Diomande rounds out the top five, as the Ivorian winger garners interest from top European clubs thanks to his impressive performances with RB Leipzig. Meanwhile, Nico O’Reilly is the only Premier League player to make the top ten, recognized for his outstanding play as a winger for Manchester City.
