From promise to peak: How age drives player values in Europe's top leagues
IMAGO | Lamine Yamal (18) of FC Barcelona controls the ball during the LaLiga match between Rayo Vallecano and FC Barcelona at Estadio de Vallecas in Madrid.
Using data from the Off The Pitch Player Valuation Model, we examine how a player's age influences their market value.
Players in Europe's top eight leagues typically increase in value until peaking at age 26, after which their value steadily declines each season.
Why it matters: This insight is vital when buying and selling players, as it sets expectations for the player's future value.
The perspective: Over the last couple of years, an increasing appetite for very young players has emerged, which is expected to continue, offering both long-term upside and greater resale potential.
3 September 2025 - 4:23 PM
Clubs are increasingly targeting younger players in the transfer market, raising the question: how does age actually affect a player's market value? Whilst age is widely considered one of the most important factors in transfer decisions, it remains less clear when players tend to gain value and when that value begins to decline.
To investigate this, we examined how players' market values changed over the most recent complete season – 2024/25
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