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May it be domestic leagues or international tournaments, there is no denying that the new generation is taking over the world of football. A few years down the line, some of these names may replace the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the debate for being the greatest.
Top clubs are looking to spend big
The transfer window is the most important outlet for a football team’s fund management. Good signings can have a big impact, like taking a team’s status from mid-table to title challengers. Everyone wants to sign the next big thing, and there is no dearth of valuable youngsters in the world at the moment.
The players on this list come with a massive price tag but are often well worth the money. The biggest teams in Europe are racing to sign young stars and mold their future. After Jadon Sancho’s move to Manchester United last summer, which other young phenomenon will be next to put pen to paper?
Take a look at the five most expensive players in the world aged 21 and below.
#5 Pedri - €80 million
19-year-old Pedri has been one of Barcelona’s best signings in recent years. While many transfers have arguably backfired on Blaugrana, Pedri has proven to be quite the deal. The midfielder joined Barcelona from Las Palmas in 2019 for an initial fee that was around €5 million.
The young Spaniard is currently valued at €80 million, but this number will potentially shoot up based on the caliber he possesses. Much to the dismay of fans, Pedri has been sidelined due to injury and featured in only the first two league matches this season.
He was one of Spain’s standout performers in the Euros, playing every single minute of all six of Spain’s games. He also won the 'Best Young Player of the Tournament' award.
Pedri also won the 2021 Golden Boy award. He is the first Barcelona player since Leo Messi to win the coveted prize.
Barcelona have been a shadow of their former selves ever since Leo Messi departed last summer for Paris Saint-Germain. The Blaugrana are sixth in the league and 17 points behind leaders and rivals Real Madrid.
#4 Jadon Sancho - €85 million
Jadon Sancho made the much-anticipated move to Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund at the start of the season. Sancho spent the early part of his career at Manchester City’s youth team before moving to Germany in 2017. The 21-year-old was one of Dortmund’s brightest players but has struggled at Old Trafford.
Manchester United’s third-most expensive signing at €85 million, Sancho has managed just one goal in 16 appearances this season in the Premier League. He was one of many big-name signings that United made at the start of the campaign alongside Ronaldo and Raphael Varane.
After a transfer window that gave fans so much hope, Manchester United have had a shocking Premier League campaign. Sancho is unfortunately yet to live up to the hefty price tag. However, the Englishman has bags of talent and is sure to find his footing in due time with the Red Devils.
#3 Phil Foden - €85 million
At just 21, Manchester City’s Phil Foden has taken the world by storm. Arguably the best youngster in the Premier League, Foden has got Cityzens excited for the future. Foden has stepped up on the biggest stage and has not let the pressure of playing in the Premier League affect him.
Phil Foden is currently valued at €85 million. Foden has already won three Premier League titles, four English League Cups and one FA Cup with Manchester City. He also starred in the U-17 World Cup which England eventually won in 2017 beating Spain U-17 5-2.
The Englishman has delivered in the current Premier League season as well. He has five goals and three assists so far. Manchester City are sitting comfortably on top with a 10-point lead over second-placed Chelsea but will be wary not to get complacent.
Foden has a contract with the club till 2024, and City will be eager to get a new deal signed.
#2 Vinicius Jr. - €100 million
After a disappointing first three seasons at Real Madrid, Vinicius Jr. has finally found his form with Los Blancos. He has been a reflection of the way Real Madrid have gone about business - clean, efficient, and deadly.
The Brazilian is valued at €100 million and rightly so based on the current season. One of the catalysts behind Real’s blistering form in La Liga, Vinicius has 12 goals and five assists this season. He is in second spot on the league's top scorer list behind team-mate Karim Benzema. Real are top of the league and look set to add a 35th La Liga title under their belt.
Vinicius has a contract till 2024, and Real Madrid fans will be desperate for him to sign a new deal as soon as possible. Vinicius has recovered from a shaky start at Madrid and has been a revelation under Ancelotti. If he keeps this form going, the Brazilian starlet could become the future of Real Madrid.
#1 Erling Haaland - €150 Million
Erling Haaland has quite simply been out of the world ever since he made his debut for Borussia Dortmund in 2020. The Norwegian is hot property right now, with the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid after his signature. Haaland is the most expensive player on this list priced at €150 million.
Haaland has scored a mind-boggling 76 goals in 76 appearances for Dortmund with 21 assists. The 21-year-old has continued in the same vein this season, with 13 goals and six assists in 12 Bundesliga appearances.
Judging by the way Haaland is performing at just 21, he will undoubtedly become one of the greatest in football. Haaland is the youngest player to record 20 Champions League goals. He is also the fastest to reach 25 goals in any of Europe's top five leagues this century, doing so in just 25 games with Dortmund.
