In the footsteps of Gavi - Barca talent Lamine Yamal receives €25m market value

On Sunday evening, Lamine Yamal, aged 16, one month and seven days, became the youngest player to feature in a starting XI for Barcelona in LaLiga history. In the 2-0 win over Cadiz, the winger started over Ansu Fati. Yamal not only succeeded Fati by emerging from La Masia but also by equalizing his record starting market value. 

Praised by Barca coach Xavi as a great talent who can make a difference on the pitch, Yamal becomes the fourth player in history with a starting market value of €25m. The three players before him were Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea), Fati, and, two years later, fellow Barcelona talent Gavi. Just after turning 16, Yamal becomes the youngest of the four to receive a €25m market value. 

Stats

Lamine Yamal Right Winger

Career stats–
All competitions

Games

12

Goals

0

Assists

0

The forward already wrote history last year when he was brought on during the final minutes of Barcelona’s 4-0 victory over Real Betis. At the time, Yamal was 15 years, nine months, and 16 days old, making him the youngest player in Barcelona’s history and the fifth youngest in LaLiga history. Yamal, who has now featured in three games with the first team, is now being compared with former greats who have emerged from the famous La Masia academy. 

Lamine Yamal fascinates – Noah Darvich also receives market value

“Lamine Yamal fascinates with his incredible footballing talent,” Area Manager Spain Tobias Blaseio said. “Yamal has been with the club since he was seven, and the Barca genetics are ingrained in his game. The club, in turn, has very high expectations, and it is impossible to avoid comparisons to Lionel Messi. Xavi seems to trust him, and that makes a breakthrough this season realistic.” 

Among the Barca talents to receive a starting market value was also Noah Darvich. The 16-year-old German talent was signed by Barcelona for €2.5m from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg. The transfer fee for the U17 European Championship winner creates the basis for his €2.5m starting market value. “Darvich will find a perfect environment at Barça Atlètic under coach Rafa Márquez to show his talent and to collect experience,” Blaseio said. “In the last few weeks, he has already shown some positive impressions at a test match and, for now, will mostly feature in Spain’s third division.”

Stats

N. Darvich Attacking Midfield

Career stats–
All competitions

Games

26

Goals

9

Assists

5

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).