Observatoire du football CIES

Most expensive players: Yamal in a league of his own

Admin — 2026-06-03T09:03:44Z

The 549th Weekly Post presents the 100 players in the world with the highest estimated transfer value, as calculated from the CIES Football Observatory's statistical model. FC Barcelona's young Spanish prodigy, Lamine Yamal, crushes the competition with a valuation of €358 million. Ahead of Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland (€227 million).
No other player is valued at over €200 million, with Kylian Mbappé in third place (€166 million). The following players are at the top of the (...)

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Most popular clubs on social media

Admin — 2026-05-27T07:35:28Z

The 548th Weekly Post from the CIES Football Observatory ranks clubs worldwide according to their number of followers on the main social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X). Two clubs stand out: Real Madrid (488 million followers) and Barcelona (442 million). England's Manchester United complete the top three (239 million), ahead of Paris Saint-Germain (208 million).
Among teams ranked in the top 10 positions, German side Bayern Munich recorded the strongest growth (...)

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Best XIs of the season: 34 leagues

Admin — 2026-05-20T06:56:54Z

The 547th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post presents the Team of the Season (4-2-1-3) for 34 leagues reaching their conclusion. The selection was made by taking into account players' performances (eight game areas for outfield players and the difference between goals expected goals and conceded for goalkeepers ; Impect data), the results of matches in which players' participated, and playing time.
At big-5 league level, the following goalkeepers are part of the Best XIs : David Raya (...)

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Player exports: Brazil ahead of France

Admin — 2026-05-13T05:53:15Z

The 546th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post presents the 50 nations worldwide with the highest number of expatriates* currently playing in 135 professional leagues across the globe. As last year, Brazil remains the leading exporter (1,455 players abroad, +37), but is being hotly pursued by France (1,275, +86), with reigning world champions Argentina in third place (1,016, +27).
Since 2021, the largest increase in absolute terms has been recorded for France (+332 expatriates), with a (...)

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Two-thirds of coaches in the job for less than a year

Admin — 2026-05-06T06:10:01Z

The 545th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post shows that 65.2% of teams across 55 leagues worldwide have changed their head coach at least once over the past year. This proportion is close to that recorded on the same date last year (see here). This finding reflects chronic instability in most clubs.
By league, the figures range from 100% of clubs having changed their manager over the past 365 days in the Cyprus top division (14 out of 14) to just 18.8% in Norway's top tier (3 clubs out (...)

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CIES survey - final reminder

Admin — 2026-04-30T10:07:08Z

Dear subscribers,
Many of you have already taken part in our survey to share your views on various topics relating to men's professional football. Thank you very much!
However, we would still like to expand the sample of respondents. That is why we are writing to you one last time to invite those who have not yet taken part to do so.
The results of the survey, which is completely anonymous, will be published ahead of the next World Cup. Please take three minutes at most to complete this (...)

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Highest-rated young goalkeepers

Admin — 2026-04-29T06:50:50Z

The 544th Weekly Post lists the 100 goalkeepers who did not yet turn 23 with the highest estimated transfer value, as calculated using the CIES Football Observatory statistical model. Topping the list with a value of €47 million is Mike Penders, the Belgian goalkeeper on loan from Chelsea to RC Strasbourg.
Two other big-5 league goalkeepers round off the top three : Jonas Urbig of Bayern Munich (€41 million) and Robin Risser of RC Lens (€35 million). In fourth place, AZ Alkmaar's Dutchman (...)

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Most powerful football agencies: global ranking

Admin — 2026-04-22T07:16:52Z

The 543rd CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post presents the world's most powerful football agencies. The ranking is based on the aggregate transfer value of the players represented by the companies or for whom the latter hold transfer negotiation rights, according to publicly available information*.
At the top of the list is an agency formed from the merger of several entities : CAA Stellar / Base. This US-controlled group represents the interests of no fewer than 84 players whose transfer (...)

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Top U23 outfield players: 67 leagues

Admin — 2026-04-15T08:11:43Z

The 542nd CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post presents the U23 outfield players currently active in 67 leagues worldwide who have performed best over the last six months. The rankings have been compiled based on players' performances across eight game areas (Impect data), the sporting level of matches played, results and playing time*.
The following footballers top the table in their respective position: Pau Cubarsí (centre backs), Warren Zaïre-Emery (wide backs), Aleksandar Pavlović (...)

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Top development clubs: use of U21 players

Admin — 2026-04-08T08:26:09Z

The 541st CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post highlights the clubs currently competing in 50 top divisions worldwide where footballers who had not yet turned 21 have played the highest percentage of minutes in domestic league matches over the last five years. Denmark's FC Nordsjælland top the list with no less than 44.7% of minutes by U21s.
The Slovakian side MŠK Žilina (35.3%) and the Austrian side RB Salzburg (35.0%) complete the podium. The top three clubs outside Europe are Uruguay's SC (...)

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