Image Credits: Imago Images
The footballing world looks to various sources for accurate player valuations, but few hold as much weight as the CIES Football Observatory. Based in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, the CIES (Centre International d’Etude du Sport) Football Observatory has established itself as the gold standard in player valuation since 2005. Created as a joint venture between FIFA, the University of Neuchâtel, and local authorities, the research group specializes in statistical analysis of football, employing sophisticated econometric models that analyze multiple variables including age, contract length, performance metrics, and competition level.
Their valuations are so highly respected that they’re regularly used as evidence in legal disputes over transfer fees, while prestigious clubs including Arsenal, Olympique Lyonnais, and Borussia Dortmund have commissioned their expertise. The latest January 2026 rankings from CIES have been published, with Liverpool’s summer signing Florian Wirtz securing an impressive sixth place among the world’s most valuable players.
The German playmaker, who joined the Reds in a then club-record £100 million deal (€117.5 million with potential add-ons reaching €136.3 million), is now valued at €136 million by the independent research body. This valuation comes just months after his blockbuster transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, confirming Liverpool’s investment in one of European football’s brightest talents.
At sixth in the world, Wirtz sits behind only Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal (€343 million), Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (€255 million), Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé (€201 million), Jude Bellingham (€153 million), and Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise (€137 million).
See the full top 10 below:
Rank Player Club Value (€)
1 Lamine Yamal Barcelona €343m
2 Erling Haaland Manchester City €255m
3 Kylian Mbappé Real Madrid €201m
4 Jude Bellingham Real Madrid €153m
5 Michael Olise Bayern Munich €137m
6 Florian Wirtz Liverpool €136m
7 Désiré Doué Paris Saint-Germain €133m
8 João Neves Paris Saint-Germain €132m
9 Arda Güler Real Madrid €131m
10 Pedri Barcelona €130m
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