The dust may still be settling on the 2019/20 Premier League season, but this summer’s unusually quick turnaround means the new campaign is now only 36 days away.
Liverpool will be desperate to defend their title as they look to build on a season of top-flight domination, but the early transfer business from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City suggests there could be some serious competition in the 2020/21 season.
Chelsea have already sealed the signings of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner while City have added Ferran Torres and Nathan Ake to their ranks this week, but summer transfer business is just one of the many factors set to dictate how next season plays out.
The emergence of fresh youth stars is another element which could easily change of next term, with the Premier League’s abundance of rich wealth and impressive academy set-ups making the league a real hot bed for promising talent.
Here, we use Transfermarkt’s valuations to rank the 15 most valuable footballers under the age of 21 who are playing in England’s top flight at present…
15. Pedro Neto
Neto has made a positive impression since joining Wolves on a permanent deal from Braga last summer, with the 20-year-old having scored three goals and registered three assists as he helped his side to a seventh-placed finish.
The Molineux outfit rated Neto highly enough to hand him a five-year contract upon his arrival at the club, and his market value currently stands at £13.5million following his maiden Premier League campaign.
14. Eric Garcia
Garcia first arrived at Manchester City in 2017 when he completed a switch from the Barcelona youth set-up, but the 2019/20 season truly represented the 19-year-old’s breakthrough season at the club as he made 13 Premier League appearances.
The centre-back’s excellent decision making and strong passing ability are just some of the qualities which have helped his market value climb to £14.4million following the completion of the campaign.
13. Joe Willock
Willock had only been granted a total of 17 appearances for Arsenal prior to the 2019/20 season, but he has established himself a much more important member of the Gunners’ squad this term which has seen him feature 43 times in total.
The 20-year-old has been regularly used by both Unai Emery and new boss Mikel Arteta in all competitions this term, and he is now valued at £14.4million as a result of his strong passing ability and forward-thinking mentality.
12. Max Aarons
The Norwich right-back makes it on to the list despite the fact his side suffered relegation from the Premier League this season, with Aarons having been one of the stand-out performers in an otherwise disappointing Canaries side.
Aarons’ athleticism and attacking intelligence have caught the eye of Bayern Munich in recent weeks, according to Sky Sports Austria, and Transfermarkt suggests the 20-year-old is currently valued at £18million following relegation.
11. Reece James
James is one of the several Chelsea youth prospects who have been elevated into the first team by Frank Lampard this season, with the 20-year-old having been a key figure on the Blues’ right flank during their road to sealing fourth spot in the top flight.
The full-back has made 36 appearances since making his first-team debut in September following his return from injury, and his displays have seen him earn a suggested market value of £20.25million at present.
10. William Saliba
Saliba is yet to make his debut for Arsenal following the completion of his permanent move last summer, but the centre-back qualifies for the list given he is now officially back in north London after ending his loan spell with Saint Etienne.
The 19-year-old’s 2019/20 season was hampered by two injuries in addition to the fact the Ligue 1 season was cut short, but Saliba still delivered some very promising displays for Claude Puel’s side to see him register a market value of £20.25million.
9. Moise Kean
Everton caught the eye by completing an audacious swoop for Kean last summer, but the talented striker has struggled to settle in English football after having only managed to score two goals since his reported £27.5million move from Juventus.
The 20-year-old only made six league starts for the Toffees as they finished 12th in the top-flight standings, but Kean’s market value still stands at a respectable £22.5million according to Transfermarkt.
8. Gabriel Martinelli
There are plenty of positives for Arsenal to take from the season despite their modest eighth-placed finish, and Martinelli is definitely one of them after he netted three goals in his 14 league appearances following his move from Ituano last summer.
The 19-year-old saw his second half of the campaign overshadowed by a knee injury, but his strong start to life at the Emirates Stadium means he now has a strong market value of £22.5million.
7. Ryan Sessegnon
Sessegnon has struggled to cement himself at Tottenham following his deadline-day move from Fulham last summer, with the promising 20-year-old having only registered six Premier League appearances for the north Londoners this season.
The England Under-21 international is still valued at £22.5million according to Transfermarkt, but this has figure taken a hit as result of Spurs boss Jose Mourinho restricting Sessegnon to just one top-flight outing since the turn of the year.
6. Dwight McNeil
McNeil is the only player on this list to have featured in every one of his side’s matches during the 2019/20 season, with the winger having also been named in all 38 of Sean Dyche’s starting line-ups as Burnley finished in 10th spot.
The former Manchester United academy player netted twice and registered six assists as he was largely deployed on the left flank, and the 20-year-old’s first full Premier League campaign has seen his market value now rise to £22.5million.
5. Callum Hudson-Odoi
It has been a mixed season for Hudson-Odoi which only saw him start seven Premier League matches due to a combination of injury problems and competition for places, but he also made a further 15 appearances from the bench for the Blues.
However, it is perhaps easy to forget that the winger is still only 19 as he continues to find his feet in the professional game, and his current market value of £28.35million indicates how he has already made a very strong impression since his 2018 debut.
4. Bukayo Saka
Saka has been nothing short of revelation since establishing himself in Arsenal’s first team back in September, with the 18-year-old having netted four goals and registered 11 assists during his breakthrough campaign at the Emirates.
The Hale End academy product has recently signed a new long-term contract as a result of his excellent form for the Gunners, with these exciting and mature performances having seen him earn a valuation of £31.5million.
3. Phil Foden
Foden’s inclusion on the list should not come as a surprise given he has been showing his quality in the Manchester City first team since his 2017 debut, but his incredible recent displays have seen him cement his spot in Pep Guardiola’s congested midfield.
The England Under-21 international made 23 Premier League appearances in the 2019/20 season, but his imperious form after the restart saw him feature in all but one of City’s last 10 games, and this has seen his value climb to £36million.
2. Ferran Torres
The City winger does not yet have a Premier League appearance to his name having only sealed his move from Valencia earlier this summer, but Torres’ fine form in Spain suggests he looks set to become one of the brightest talents in the league next term.
The 20-year-old possesses an abundance of technical quality in addition to his incisive attacking play, with his 34 league appearances for Valencia last season having helped his market value rise to £40.5million.
1. Mason Greenwood
Greenwood is recognised by Transfermarkt as the most valuable under-21 player in the Premier League at present, with the clinical 18-year-old currently valued on par with new City recruit Torres at £40.5million.
The Manchester United frontman was in dazzling form following the season restart as he netted five goals during his side’s final nine league matches, with this taking Greenwood’s tally up to 18 goals in all competitions this campaign.
