Top 10 ranked
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Few sports value youth as much as football. Alongside the hope of realised potential on the football pitch, clubs also prioritise young players on their transfer shortlists because they know youth comes at a premium in the transfer market. As such, some of Europe’s biggest clubs have spent remarkable sums of money on players that have yet to turn 20 in the last few months. But how many have been signed to immediately improve their new teams and how many have simply been bought as future investments? Let’s take a look.
Yan Diomande: Leganes to RB Leipzig for €20m
Kicking off the top 10 are a club that are no strangers to picking up young talents in the transfer market and in Yan Diomande there’s little doubt that RB Leipzig expect big things from the left winger. Having sold a number of forward players and even more expected to depart before the window shuts, the 18-year-old talent has been thrown into a starting role for Ole Werner’s side on the left flank and should play that role regularly in the coming season.
Jesús Rodríguez: Real Betis to Como for €22.5m
Another left winger that should get plenty of game time this season is new Como signing Jesús Rodríguez. After impressing at Real Betis in the Spanish top-flight last season, Rodríguez became Como’s record signing when they signed him this summer. As such, the 19-year-old talent is expected to be a regular starter for Cesc Fàbregas’s side this season and should feature heavily in Serie A.
Ben Doak: Liverpool to Bournemouth for €23.2m
Liverpool’s remarkable spending spree has forced the Anfield club to sell a number of young players and one such example is Ben Doak. And there’s a good chance that he’ll be a smart fit at his new club Bournemouth. After impressing in Liverpool’s youth teams then on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship last season, Doak should be an ideal long-term replacement for departed star Dango Ouattara.
Jobe Bellingham: Sunderland to Dortmund for €30.5m
One of the most sought-after teenagers in world football this summer was Jobe Bellingham and it was Borussia Dortmund that won the race to sign the younger brother of Jude for €30.5m. That fee was the highest ever paid out by the German club, which leaves little doubt over the former Sunderland star’s role in Niko Kovac’s team this season. Like his older brother before him, Jobe should quickly become a key player for the Bundesliga side.
Giovanni Leoni: Parma to Liverpool for €31m
One somewhat unexpected breakthrough star of this coming season could be new Liverpool signing Giovanni Leoni. Although the Anfield club perhaps never intended for their new signing from Parma to go straight into Arne Slot’s first team, the club’s lack of options in the centre of defence and serious struggle to find another available central defender on the market could mean that Leoni does end up playing a fair amount of Premier League football this season.
Estêvão: Palmeiras to Chelsea for €34m
While few may have pondered whether new Chelsea signing Estêvão would get much game time in the Premier League this season, manager Enzo Maresca wasted no time in introducing the Palmeiras import to the English top-flight by featuring him in the club’s first two games of the season. The right winger quickly repaid the faith shown in him with an assist against West Ham and already looks like a player that will be starting many games this season.
Charalampos Kostoulas: Olympiacos to Brighton for €35m
In typical fashion, Brighton have sought to replace the departure of star forward João Pedro by plucking another young talent from relative obscurity in the form of Greek star Charalampos Kostoulas. The 18-year-old talent bagged 12 goals in 37 games last season, but while he will feature for Fabian Hürzeler’s side this season, it remains to be seen whether he can really demand a starting spot in the Premier League.
Tyler Dibling: Southampton to Everton for €40.5m
Another young talent that will be hoping to pick up plenty of game time in the Premier League this season is Tyler Dibling. After performing well in a poor Southampton side last season, Everton have put their faith in the youngster to the tune of €40.5m – the club’s second highest ever fee. Whether Dibling can become the player want him to be remains to be seen, but David Moyes will certainly give him every opportunity to prove himself this season.
Jorrel Hato – Ajax to Chelsea for €44.2m
At first the €44.2m signing of Jorrel Hato looked like another Chelsea signing that may be resigned to a season on the bench, however injuries to Levi Colwill and Benoît Badiashile, as well as players like Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah and even Wesley Fofana facing imminent departures from the club, it seems almost certain that Hato will be a starting player in Maresca’s squad this season.
Franco Mastantuono: River Plate to Real Madrid for €45m
Spanish giants Real Madrid have made a habit of going to South America for inspiration in the transfer market and they seem to have found yet another star in the form of Franco Mastantuono. Signed for an incredible fee of €45m, the River Plate winger has stepped straight into Xabi Alonso’s team and played in all of the club’s LaLiga matches to date. And if reports surrounding Rodrygo’s future at the club are to be believed, Mastantuono may end up being one of Madrid’s key players this season.