Top 10 footballers whose value skyrocketed in 2025
Modern day football players are global superstars who earn millions in wages and carry a significant value in the market. While young upcoming Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal ranks as the most valuable player in the world, world class stars like Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland are not far behind in the transfer market. With the inflation rate increasing every year, football players are costing much higher than they used to a decade back, leading to exorbitant transfer fees as well.
P.S.: All stats have been taken from www.transfrmarkt.co.uk
Here we take a look at the top 10 players whose transfer market value has seen a sky-high rise since the start of 2025 –
10. Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool, Netherlands)
Liverpool’s Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch had a superb 2024/25 season, becoming an instrumental figure in their title charge.
From a squad player under Jurgen Klopp to Liverpool’s starting defensive midfielder, Gravenberch not only found a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Season (TOTS) and won the PFA Young Player of the Season for the 2024/25 PL season but also impressed his national team coach Ronald Koeman, becoming a regular in the Dutch National Team.
As a result, Gravenberch’s market value has seen a highly significant 63.6% rise. His transfer market value before 2025 was €55 million and since Jan 2025, it has risen to €90 million, hence seeing a rise of +€35 million.
The Dutch midfielder is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world right now and if he continues to improve and wins more trophies with club and country, sky is the limit for the 23-year-old.
9. Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United, Italy)
Newcastle United’s midfielder Sandro Tonali is another one on this list, whose value has seen a huge rise in 2025.
The Magpies ended the 2024/25 season in impressive manner and were able to qualify for the Champions League as well as end their 70-year trophy drought by winning the League Cup in 2025. Their midfield maestro Tonali has been a key figure in both these achievements and hence his market value has also seen a massive change this year.
Sandro Tonali’s initial transfer value before 2025 was €38 million and it has now seen a 97.4% hike to rise up to €75 million, which is a + €37 million rise.
If the Italian midfielder proves his worth and takes his country to the FIFA World Cup, his stocks could further rise exponentially.
8. Pedri (Barcelona, Spain)
Without a doubt, Pedri is one of the best central midfielders in the world right now. He is not just a central figure for the Blaugrana but also a key player in the Spain National team setup.
It was also due to Pedri’s brilliance in the Barca midfield that Barcelona won a domestic treble and also reached the UCL Semi-finals last season. He is the one that runs the show in the middle of the park for Barcelona, he also won the Player of the Month award several times and was also a part of the LaLiga EASports Team of the Season for the 2024/25 season. Alongside Raphinha and Yamal, Pedri is the first name on the sheet for coach Hansi Flick.
Pedri’s market value has seen a significant rise of 40%. His current market value is a mammoth €140 million which has risen from the prior value of €100 million.
The young Spaniard has already won trophies with club and country and is on course to become a Barca and Spain legend, carrying forward the legacy of midfield maestros Andrés Iniesta and Xavi at Barca and Spain.
7. Hugo Ekitiké (Liverpool, France)
Young French striker Hugo Ekitiké was wanted by many clubs in this summer transfer window but finally decided to make a move to English giants Liverpool for an eye watering transfer fee. Ekitiké’s earlier move from PSG to Eintracht Frankfurt proved to be a great decision as he became a regular starter for the German club and alongside Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush, he made a massive impact for them.
Ekitike is a young pacy forward with a very high ceiling as he has started to show his worth even at a struggling Liverpool in the 2025/26 season, scoring many goals for them. As a result, French coach Didier Deschamps has also started favouring the French forward alongside Kylian Mbappe.
Due to having a breakthrough season, Ekitiké’s market value saw a huge rise in 2025. His current market value is €85 million which is a 112.5% rise with a + €45 million difference this year.
The 23-year-old forward is just getting started and if he performs for club and country, he could become one of the most sought-after forwards in world football soon.
6. Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
PSG’s French forward, Ousmane Dembélé had a sensational 2024/25 season with PSG, winning an unprecedented Continental Treble along with the club’s first UCL title and Dembélé was at the forefront of all the success.
Since Jan 2025, Dembélé showed incredible form, helping his side win the French Ligue 1, the UCL and also the Coupe de France.
As a result of his performances and the trophies, he was awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or award for the 2024/25 season. Dembélé was also a part of the French Ligue 1 Team of the Year and 2024/25 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season for his exceptional performances.
As a consequence, Dembélé saw a massive rise in his transfer value. The 28-year-old forward had a market value of €55 million in the previous year which saw a 81.8% hike, taking his value to €100 million in 2025 – a difference of +€ 45 million in his market valuation.
Dembélé could prove to be a very important cog in the wheel for French National team as well as PSG and if he can stay fit and make an impact for both, his valuation could see a further surge.
5. Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
Unsurprisingly, another PSG player on this list, 20-year-old French sensation Désiré Doué has produced a superb season, contributing to his side winning a first-ever UCL title and a continental treble.
Désiré Doué has been touted as one of the most exciting young talents in world football and he proved his talent and skills in the 2024/25. Doué was also part of the 2024/25 Ligue 1 Team of the Season, 2024/25 UCL Team of the Season and also took home the 2024/25 Ligue 1 Young Player of the Season Award.
As a result, the young Frenchman has seen a meteoric rise in his transfer value. His transfer value before 2025 was just €40 million, which saw a hike of 125%, taking his value to €90 million leading to a difference of €50 million.
Doué is undoubtedly one of the players to watch in Europe’s top 5 leagues right now and if he continues on his current trajectory, his stocks could skyrocket further in the coming years.
4. Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid, Spain)
Spanish defender Dean Huijsen has already seen a superb career trajectory even at a young age of 20-years-old. The young centre-back’s move from Italian giants Juventus to English club Bournemouth proved to be a career-defining move for the Spaniard.
Such was his impact in the 2024/25 season for the Cherries that Huijsen was being watched over by elite European clubs who wanted to add him to their defensive lineup. In addition, Huijsen was also selected to play for the Spanish National Team for the World Cup qualifiers. After the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea being interested in him, the youngster chose to move to LaLiga to represent Spanish giants Real Madrid and is already a starting CB for the Los Blancos.
Based on his performances in the Premier League, the young CB’s worth increased leading to an incredible hike of 288.9% from his initial valuation of €18 million to €70 million. His market value rose by a difference of €52 million.
Huijsen has already made it to one of the best clubs in the world and has a long way to go in his career. He has the potential to become one of the best CB’s in the world which could definitely increase his market value even further.
3. Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United, Germany)
German striker Nick Woltemade is another player who has seen a significant rise in his stocks in 2025.
The 23-year-old tall VfB Stuttgart striker recently chose to move to England amidst huge interest from German champions Bayern Munich. He had a great season with the German team, also helping them win the DFB-Pokal Trophy. Woltemade has made a great start to life at Tyneside, scoring within 30 minutes of his debut for the Magpies and is looking well settled in English football already. He is also a first-choice starter for the German National Team under coach Julien Naglesmann.
Woltemade has therefore seen a rise in his transfer value in 2025. His previous transfer fee before 2025 was a paltry €7.50 million which has now seen a massive rise of 766.7%, making it €65 million – a difference of €57.50 million.
Woltemade has a chance to raise his value even further as he has the opportunity to play in the UCL and the upcoming FIFA World Cup is another huge platform for him to showcase his talent. Only 23, Woltemade could have the world at his feet.
2. Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, France)
Bayern Munich’s French winger, Michael Olise had a sensational debut season for the Bavarians in the 2024/25 season.
Olise preferred a move to German giants even though Manchester City were heavily interested in the Crystal Palace winger. Olise had a sensational debut season with Bayern Munich, contributing massively to the Bavarians’ title win and UCL campaign. For his performances, Olise was awarded Bayern Munich Player of the Year and the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year award and was also part of the Bundesliga Team of the Season.
The extraordinary performances led to Olise’s market valuation seeing a huge spike. His valuation before 2025 was €65 million but it has since risen 100% to a massive €130 million – a difference of €65 million.
Olise has started the new season in great form, he is also a French national team regular starter and already on the radar of many European clubs, we could probably see his value grow even more.
1.Alexander Isak (Liverpool, Sweden)
The name on the top of the list is former Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak who joined Liverpool in the summer.
Isak has been one of the most prolific scorers for the Magpies in the duration he has been with them and also helped them end a 70-year trophy drought last season, along with helping the Geordies qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Isak’s transfer this summer was a messy affair but his performances last season were exceptional as he was the second highest scorer in the PL behind Mohamed Salah. For that reason, he was also a part of the PFA PL Team of the Season.
The Swedish centre-forward’s value has seen a massive rise from last year. His value before 2025 was €75 million. It saw a rise of 86.7%, going up to a mammoth €140 million which is a €65 million bump in his market valuation.
Though Isak hasn’t started life well at Merseyside and his National team is struggling to qualify for the World Cup, if he can help both his club and country turn their form around, he can surely see a further improvement in his valuation.
