LaLiga market values: Lamine Yamal in the top 3 – Kylian Mbappé drops by 11.1%

​

504 updates 

©TM/IMAGO

With the holiday season in full swing, Transfermarkt has updated the market values of 504 LaLiga players. After updating the market values of the other top four leagues earlier this month, the Spanish top flight became the last top division in 2024 to receive new market values. While Vinicius Junior remains at the top with a market value of €200m, Real Madrid’s top signing Kylian Mbappé saw his market value drop. 

“Mbappé’s transfer came with massive expectations that he couldn’t fulfill,” market value coordinator Spain Tobias Blaseio said. “For a player of his format, the expectation was that he would get used to his new environment more quickly. While his numbers aren’t bad, there is a feeling that he lacks confidence and looks generally unhappy. It is obvious that he isn’t fulfilling his massive potential.” With that in mind, Mbappé saw his market value drop by 11.1% from €180m to €160m and is no longer among the top three most valuable players. But there is also a sense that this might be only temporary. “He has everything you need to return to the top,” Blaseio added. 

Indeed, Mbappé isn’t the only player struggling at Real Madrid. Rodrygo (-€10m to €100m), Aurélien Tchouaméni (-€20m to €80m), Éder Militão and Endrick (both -€20m to €60m) are among the other top players with downgrades. “Real Madrid have one of the smallest squads in LaLiga, and the average age of the squad is almost three years older than that of rivals Barcelona,” Blaseio said. “The squad planning could have been better, and you can expect a correction in January, especially as the squad has really struggled with the heavy workload.” This has been especially evident in the Champions League, where the results have been disappointing.

LaLiga market values: Yamal up by €30m – Raphinha continues to impress

The main star at Barcelona remains 17-year-old Lamine Yamal. “It is hard to find the right words for his career thus far,” Blaseio said. “The leadership role he has taken on as a 17-year-old at both the national team and Barcelona is indescribable. The jump in quality is evident whenever he is on the pitch for his team. It doesn’t even make sense to compare him with previous world stars because his stats are one of a kind for a player of his age. It will be exciting to see how he will deal with the pressure in the long term.” Either way, his market value increased by another €30m to now €180m, enough to be ranked among Spain’s three most valuable players. 

One player who has undoubtedly benefited from playing with Yamal is Brazilian winger Raphinha. “The Brazilian is one of the players with excellent form in the first half of the season,” Blaseio said. “His incredible performances in the Champions League—the hattrick against Bayern stood out—and in LaLiga have improved his status within the club and the national team.” His market value is up by €20m from €60m to €80m. How high could it go? “He is 28, and because of his age, reaching the €100m benchmark might be difficult to achieve.” 

Age isn’t an issue for talented Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi. “The 17-year-old has now played a full season on the biggest stage and underlined that he has the qualities to continue this level long-term,” Blaseio said. At this stage, imagining Barcelona and Spain without the young center-back in the starting XI is impossible. “His above-average buildup play, defensive one-on-one abilities, and high-risk play in the high press make him a player who fulfills many of the key requirements of a modern defender. To play the position at this age is both spectacular and impressive.” With a market value increase of €30m to now €70m, Cubarsi is now among the ten most valuable center-backs in the world. 

LaLiga market values: Aramburu at Real Sociedad and Boyomo at Osasuna stand out

Away from the big two, 22-year-old center-back Jon Aramburu has been playing a fantastic season for Real Sociedad. “The right-back has become a permanent fixture in the first team,” Blaseio said. “He stood out for Venezuela at the Copa America last summer and managed to take that momentum into the new season.” Since that tournament, Aramburu has been scouted by some of Europe’s biggest teams, and that interest has only increased after a strong start to the season. “His ability to play center-back in a back-three and also as a left-back makes him a hot commodity,” Blaseio added. As a result, the Venezuelan defender sees his market value increase by 140% from €5m to €12m.

Not quite as much of an increase, but still an impressive jump by 100% from €10m to €20m experienced Enzo Boyomo. “Osasuna’s Cameroonian defender has caught the eye of many top clubs,” Blaseio said. “Signed for just €5m from Valladolid last summer, the transfer now looks like a steal. He has missed just 90 minutes this season and was rewarded with a debut for Cameroon’s national team. Boyomo’s contract runs until 2029 and includes an exit clause of just €25m. English clubs have already shown interest, especially Aston Villa, coached by Spanish manager Unai Emery.”

How Transfermarkt market values work

The Transfermarkt market values are calculated, taking into account various pricing models. A major factor is the Transfermarkt community, whose members discuss and evaluate player market values in detail. In general, the Transfermarkt market values are not to be equated with transfer fees. 

The goal is not to predict a price but an expected value of a player in a free market. Both individual transfer modalities and situational conditions are relevant in determining market values. Examples of this are listed below. Transfermarkt does not use an algorithm (you can find the detailed market value definition here).