Top 15 Players Unutilized
Although it’s still November and European football leagues are in full swing, many of the sport’s top players are already looking ahead to 2026, when the World Cup will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Every leading player aspires to participate in this prestigious tournament, which requires them to maintain their form and fitness at peak levels. Currently, some prominent stars are falling short in terms of playing time. Today, at Transfermarkt, we examine the most valuable players who have played less than 50% of available league minutes for their clubs in Europe’s top five leagues. To ensure fairness, we have excluded new signings and players unable to compete due to injuries.
Key Players in Need of More Playtime
Leading our list of valuable players lacking adequate game time are four individuals, each valued at €40 million, who find themselves on the fringes of their teams. An example is Real Madrid winger Brahim Díaz, who has only started three LaLiga matches this season and was an unused substitute in an equal number of games. Joining him is Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, who has only featured in 31% of his team’s matches thus far and is likely evaluating his options ahead of the January transfer window. Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson and Lucas Bergvall are also in a similar situation, having clocked in just 47% and 31% of their squad’s total league minutes, respectively.
At the €45 million mark, we see five players in varying stages of their careers who may or may not be seeking transfers in January. Young talents like Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri have only played 9% and 16% of Premier League minutes, remaining promising but still developing. Likewise, Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo has only appeared in 14% of league matches so far, indicating a cautious approach from manager Ruben Amorim. Conversely, Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli (22%) and Liverpool’s Curtis Jones (34%) may need to reconsider their futures at their clubs if they continue to be overlooked for starting roles.
As we move up in market value, we encounter two €50 million players wrestling with their positions going into January. France’s Eduardo Camavinga has only started three of Madrid’s last eight league games after missing the first four due to injury. Similarly, Manchester City’s Savinho may be questioning whether his role as a substitute will secure him a spot on Brazil’s national team next summer. Just above them, Bayern Munich’s Aleksandar Pavlovic, valued at €55 million, has participated in only three Bundesliga matches this season.
Finally, we assess the last three players on our list with impressive market values. In third place is Paris Saint-Germain full-back Nuno Mendes (45% of league game time), while Real Madrid forward Rodrygo (24%) ranks second, and PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (46%) holds the top position. While the reduced playing time for the PSG duo can be attributed to Luis Enrique’s squad rotation, it’s resulted in Kvaratskhelia managing just one goal and two assists in Ligue 1 this season. It is likely that Rodrygo, with only two LaLiga starts this season, will be seeking more consistent playing time and improved performance in the second half of the season.
