Thanks to the collaboration with Impect, the CIES Football Observatory has developed performance indices on a 100 basis in eight areas of play. This Weekly Post presents the 50 outfield footballers with the highest values in each domain for the last six-month domestic league games, with each player appearing only in the ranking for the area in which they scored highest.

The following players head the tables in the different areas : Virgil van Dijk (air defence), Moisés Caicedo (ground defence), Rúben Dias (defensive build-up), Pedri González (orchestration), Michael Olise (take on), Lamine Yamal (chance creation), Kylian Mbappé (finishing) and Erling Haaland (air attack).

The youngest players in the top 50 of each category are as follows : Eivind Helland (air defence), Agustín Medina (ground defence), Pau Cubarsí (defensive build-up), Warren Zaïre-Emery (orchestration), Estêvão Willian (take on), Lamine Yamal (chance creation), Franco Mastantuono (finishing) and Thierno Barry (air attack).

>>> Top 50s for the eight domains

>>> More about Impect

>>> More about the indices

The 516th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post highlights the clubs whose estimated transfer value of players owned has changed the most, positively or negatively, over the past year. We present both the change in absolute terms (‘gross’ evolution) and the change considering the financial balance of transfer operations (with sell-ons, not including add-ons) completed during the last two transfer windows (‘net’ evolution).

In terms of net evolution, Chelsea tops the list (+€364 million) with player valuations up €372m and a balanced net spending for the last two transfer windows : -€8m. The reigning world champions are ahead of the European ones, Paris St-Germain (+€303 million). German side Eintracht Francfort (+€294m) rounds up the podium. Manchester United (-€377 million) and Manchester City (-€315m) are at the opposite end of the table.

The Post also presents the estimated transfer value of all players owned by clubs (not including any sell-on related sums). In this case, the top three are Chelsea (€1.81 billion spread across 50 players), Real Madrid (€1.68 billion, 32 players) and Manchester City (€1.47 billion,46 players). Five other clubs have a total estimated value in excess of one billion : Arsenal, Paris St-Germain, Liverpool, Barcelona and Tottenham.

>>> Full data

>>> Top valued players per club in this tool

>>> More information on the CIES Football Observatory’s statistical model for estimating transfer values in this scientific article

The 515th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post ranks teams from 69 leagues around the world according to the average age of line-ups fielded in the current domestic league season. Not including B-teams, the lowest value overall was recorded for Latvian side FK Metta (20.96 years), while the highest was measured for Saudi Arabia’s Khaleej FC (31.62 years).

In the five major European leagues, the following teams fielded, so far, the youngest line-ups : Chelsea (Premier League, 24.36 years), Barcelona (La Liga, 25.22 years, ahead of Real Madrid, 25.67 years), RC Strasbourg (Ligue 1, 21.45 years, 2nd lowest value overall, ahead of Paris St-Germain, 24.09 years), Eintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga, 24.48 years) and Parma Calcio (Serie A, 24.26 years).

The Post also presents the percentage of minutes per age category (≤21, 22-25, 26-29, ≥30). Italian champions Napoli are the Champions League big-5 participant with the highest percentage of minutes by players aged 30 or over (46.8%, up to 84.5% for over 26-year-old players), ahead of Bayern Munich (36.0%, and 70.3% respectively). These proportions are much lower for Champions League title holders Paris St-Germain : 3.0% and 23.4%.

>>> Data for all teams

>>> More details about BlueCo’s policy in this video

>>> More exclusive demographic data in this Atlas

With the real Ballon d’Or to be awarded today by France Football, the CIES Football Observatory has had fun ranking the 100 best players in the world over the past year using a purely statistical method. The latter takes into account the performances of outfield footballers during the last year in six game areas (see here, data from Impect), as well their employment, matches’ sporting level and results (see here).

FC Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal ranks first ahead of Kylian Mbappé and his teammate Pedri González. The best centre back is Virgil van Dijk (4th), while Achraf Hakimi has the highest score among full/wing backs (9th overall). One of the favourites to win the real Ballon d’Or, Ousmane Dembélé, ranks seventh in this case, also behind Michael Olise and Mohamed Salah.

The three oldest players in the top 100 are Luka Modrić, Lionel Messi, and Nicolás Otamendi, while the youngest are Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí and Désiré Doué. Virgil van Dijk tops the rankings in terms of experience, while the top three in terms of pure performance are Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.

>>> Top 100

Issue number 513 of the CIES Football Observatory’s Weekly Post presents the 100 clubs worldwide having committed the most money in transfer fees (including add-ons regardless of actual payment) to recruit their current first team squad players. Chelsea tops the list with a total investment of €1,314 million, of which €134 million for the most expensive signing (Moisés Caicedo, 10%).

Manchester City (€1,128 million) and Manchester United (€1,071m) round up the podium, followed by two other English clubs : Liverpool (€1,065m) and Arsenal (€1,001m). No club outside England has invested more than one billion to assemble its squad, with a maximum of €873 million for Champions League title holders Paris St-Germain (7th, just ahead of Real Madrid). Al-Hilal tops the rankings for non-European clubs (€451m, 19th).

Compared to the same date last year, the amounts committed by the ten clubs having invested the most in transfer fees to build their current first team squads increased by 15% (from 8.44 to 9.67 billion) and those of the top 100 by 12% (from 26.23 to 29.42 billion). This evolution is directly linked to the record transfer spending registered in 2025, as illustrated in this video.

>>> Top 100 of costliest squads

>>> Top valued players per club in 67 leagues as per CIES Football Observatory statistical model

>>> New Prospect Sheet with Impect: Alvaro Montoro

The 512th Weekly Post of the CIES Football Observatory presents the results of a statistical model forecasting the probability of winning the title for clubs in 29 leagues. The model combines sporting variables (Impect data on passes in the opponent’s half), economic variables (transfer fees invested to recruit players fielded) and demographic variables (players’ last year minutes and their matches’ sporting level).

The highest likelihood in absolute terms was recorded for Serbia’s side Crvena Zvezda (76.2%), followed by France’s Paris St-Germain (73.0%) and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns (70.6%). Conversely, among the 30 leagues analysed, the most open are the UAE Pro League (at most 23.5% chance of success for Shabab Al Ahli), the Italian Serie A (25.6% for Inter), and the Dutch Eredivisie (28.6% for Feyenoord).

In the Premier League, Liverpool has the highest probability of being crowned champions again (28.9%), ahead of Arsenal (18.8%) and Chelsea (16.2%). In La Liga, Real Madrid are the favourites (40.6% chance of winning the league), ahead of Barcelona (29.6%) and Atlético Madrid (22.1%). In Serie A, the top three are Inter (25.6%), Juventus (18.2%), and Napoli (17.4%). In Bundesliga, Bayern Munich stands out with 61.4%, ahead of Borussia Dortmund (8.8%).

>>> Full study

The 511th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post analyses the financial results of transfer operations carried out in 2025. In total, clubs around the world invested approximately €14.2 billion, 14% more than the previous record set in 2023. This Post presents the balance sheets for the 121 teams worldwide involved in incoming or outgoing transactions totalling more than €50 million overall.

With around €500 million invested and €255 million received (including add-ons and sell-ons), Liverpool tops the rankings in terms of fees generated (€755m). Two other English teams complete the podium: Chelsea (€754m) and, further behind, Manchester City (€556m). In terms of net spending, the most negative balances were also recorded for English clubs : Manchester City (-€369 million), Arsenal (-€366m) and Liverpool (-€245m).

In contrast, three French Ligue 1 teams totalled the most positive net spending for transactions completed in 2025 : RC Lens (+€113m), Olympique Lyonnais (+€108m) and Monaco (+€95m). In terms of the number of fee-paying transfers, whether for revenue or expenditure, the most active clubs were AC Milan (37 deals), Juventus (33) and Chelsea (32).

>>> Full data analysis

The 510th Football Observatory’s Weekly Post presents the 200 footballers worldwide who have not yet turned 20 with the best CIES ratings for matches played in 2025. The score is the average of two values : a performance index calculated from the data exclusively collected by our partners Impect, and an experience index taking into account minutes played, weighted by the sporting level of the matches.

FC Barcelona’s prodigy Lamine Yamal tops the rankings with a CIES ratings of 97.7. The Spaniard has the highest value in terms of both performance and experience indices. He outranks his compatriot and teammate Pau Cubarsí, while PSG’s French international Warren Zaïre-Emery completes the podium. Roger Fernandes (SC Braga) is the highest-ranked footballer not playing in the big-5, just ahead of Geovany Quenda (Sporting CP, already signed by Chelsea).

The highest value for a footballer playing outside Europe was recorded for Elías Montiel (CF Pachuca). The Mexican ranks ahead of Brazilian Rayan Vitor (Vasco da Gama) and Argentine Santino Andino (Godoy Cruz). No fewer than 48 leagues are represented in the top 200. The three youngest players listed are Mexico’s Gilberto Mora (Club Tijuana), Poland’s Oskar Pietuszewski (Jagiellonia Bialystok) and Serbia’s Vasilije Novičić (IMT Belgrade).

>>> Top 200

More information on the performance index.

More information on the experience index.

The fourth Prospect Sheet from the CIES Football Observatory, in partnership with Impect, presents Brazilian striker Rayan Vitor, a product of Vasco da Gama, the club where he has played since the age of six. At just 19 years old, he is already in his third season at professional level, with a record nine goals in all competitions in 2025.

A technically skilled left-footed player who is fast, powerful, and elegant, Rayan primarily plays as a right winger, but can perform well in any attacking position. He is particularly active at finishing level, but also makes significant contributions in terms of creating chances and aerial play (he is 185cm tall).

Despite a contract expiring at the end of 2026, his transfer value estimated by the CIES Football Observatory’s statistical model is between €19.6 and €25.3 million, depending on the financial strength of the potential buyer club. A possible extension would significantly increase this amount. Without renewal, however, his value is likely to decrease, even if he continues to perform well.

>>> Full Rayan’s profile

>>> The other profiles published

The third Prospect Sheet compiled by the CIES Football Observatory in collaboration with Impect highlights a young centre back with a great future: Luka Vušković. Aged just 18.4, the Croatian has already played two full seasons as a professional between his training club Hajduk Split, Polish side Radomiak Radom and Belgian side Westerlo.

His last season in Belgium was particularly successful, with 36 Pro League games and no fewer than 7 goals. His performances earned him a move to his parent club Tottenham Hotspur. Already estimated at €40 million by the CIES Football Observatory’s statistical model, his transfer value is destined to rise with every game played in the Premier League.

From a technical point of view, Luka Vušković has the profile of an aerial center back with attacking ability, his power being combined with outstanding technical quality. Players with similar characteristics quoted in the report include Germany’s Yann Aurel Bisseck, Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié and England’s Trevoh Chalobah.

>>> Full report

The second issue of the CIES Football Observatory Prospect Sheet, developed in collaboration with Impect, features Portuguese talent Rodrigo Mora. Born in 2007 like Lamine Yamal, the FC Porto’s attacking midfielder achieved an impressive professional career start, scoring ten goals in the Primeira Liga and earning his first call-up to the senior national team, where he should soon make his official debut.

With a contract valid until 2030, Rodrigo Mora’s transfer value, as estimated by the CIES Football Observatory’s statistical model, has already reached €53.4m for a top-flight club. This value is set to increase with his future performances, and could quickly exceed the €70m buy-out clause negotiated at the time of his recent contract extension.

From a technical profile standpoint, Rodrigo Mora is particularly active in terms of finishing and take on, making him a shooting attacking midfielder with take on ability. Among the footballers with similar characteristics mentioned in the report, notably are another highly coveted player in the ongoing transfer window, Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, and Brazil’s Philippe Coutinho.

>>> Full report

>>> Report glossary

The CIES Football Observatory is breaking new ground by launching a new publication format entitled Prospect Sheet, which provides a broad but synthetic overview of the characteristics of the world football’s most promising players in biographical (career trajectory), economic (transfer value) and technical terms (playing profile based on the data exclusively supplied by our partners Impect).

Germany striker Nick Woltemade, recent top scorer and finalist of UEFA European U21 Championship, was chosen as the first young talent to be highlighted. The VfB Stuttgart player stands out for his great skills not only in terms of finishing, but also of aerial play - thanks in particular to his height (198 cm) - and chance creation, making him a very complete and modern centre forward.

His transfer value, estimated by the CIES Football Observatory’s statistical model at €56.9 million for a top European club, is in line with the fee offered by Bayern Munich according to press rumours. However, as his contract does not expire until 2028, another top-class season would allow Stuttgart to cash in on a sum equivalent to or even greater than that in a year’s time, while helping this outstanding talent to blossom once and for all.

As often, the player’s wishes will be decisive, with pros and cons both in the choice to stay at Stuttgart and in that of eventually joining an even more competitive club. In either case, Nick Woltemade can certainly dream of taking part in the 2026 World Cup, and not just as a substitute, by competing in particular with one of the five players with a similar profile listed in the document : his compatriot Kai Havertz.

>>> Prospect Sheet

>>> Metrics explanation