Championship market values: Youngsters around Carvalho on the up - Billing second most valuable

©TM/IMAGO

Transfermarkt has redetermined or confirmed the market values in the Championship ahead of the start of the playoffs on Friday night, when Luton face Huddersfield in the first semi-final leg (19:45 UK). Among the winners are the second division’s top scorer Aleksandar Mitrović of Fulham, who receives another small plus following his latest upgrade in November, his teammate Fábio Carvalho, who is set to join Liverpool in the summer and Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing. Just as Mitrović and Carvalho, the 25-year-old Dane played a major part in his side regaining promotion to the Premier League and was directly involved in 20 goals in 40 league matches this season.

With an upgrade of €2 million to €18 million, Billing goes level with winter signing Todd Cantwell (-2 to €18 million) in the team internal ranking – both rank second in the league now. Mitrović, who scored a record-breaking 43 goals in 44 Championship games, developed very well under head coach Marco Silva, became more versatile and often dropped deeper to provide midfielders with a further option in the build-up. Seven assists are also a single-season record for the Serbia international, who rises by €2 million to €20 million and could finally prove that he is ready for the top tier, entering his prime at age 27.

Market Value

A. Mitrovic Centre-Forward

€28.00m

19-year-old attacking midfielder Carvalho (+8.5 to €12 million) made his breakthrough in the 2021/22 campaign with 18 goal involvements in 36 league games and thus ranks among the biggest winners of the update, only behind fellow youngsters Brennan Johnson of Nottingham Forest and Hull City striker Keane Lewis-Potter. Scoring twelve goals and providing four assists, 21-year-old Lewis-Potter (+11 to €12 million) did not miss a single minute of action following the Tigers’ promotion to the Championship and is already linked with a move to the Premier League.

Market Value

K. Lewis-Potter Left Winger

€12.00m

Championship update: Youngsters around Johnson among most valuable players now

The same applies to the biggest winner in absolute terms: Forest forward Johnson. The 20-year-old, who spent last season on loan with League One side Lincoln City, also made the step to the Championship in no time and was directly involved in 24 league goals in 46 appearances. As a result, the Wales international rises by €14 million to €15 million and is expected to leave his club for a significant fee in the upcoming transfer window.

Market Value

B. Johnson Right Winger

€48.00m

Climbing up the ranking of the league’s most valuable players as well – though not as rapidly as Johnson – is Blackburn’s Ben Brereton Díaz. With 22 goals from 37 Championship games, the striker more than tripled his tally from the 2020/21 campaign and also established himself in the Chilean national team. Still only 23 years of age, the time for a move to the top tier should come sooner rather than later after a market value increase of €6 million to €16 million.

Market Value

B. Brereton Díaz Left Winger

€7.00m

Harry Wilson was another important factor for Fulham’s strong form and returns to his previous market value of €17 million after an increase of €2 million. Following his €14 million move from Liverpool last summer, the 25-year-old scored ten goals and provided 20 assists in 41 matches, which his makes Mitrović and him the league’s top duo by a significant margin. Another winner at the Cottagers, Neeskens Kebano, played a strong season as well and – at the age of 30 – receives an upgrade of €1.5 million to €3 million.

Market Value

H. Wilson Right Winger

€17.00m

Adebayo biggest winner at surprise team Luton - Cook, Mawson & Co. down

At surprise team Luton, who are sensationally fighting for a Premier League spot in the playoffs, centre-forward Elijah Adebayo stands out. The 24-year-old scored 16 goals in 40 league games and played a major part in the club’s push for a top six spot, earning him a plus of €2.5 million to €4.5 million. The Hatters squad value rises from €21 million to €26 million, showing a significant gap to playoff opponents Huddersfield, who are now worth €39.8 million.

Overview All Championship clubs sorted by squad value Click here The biggest absolute loser of the update is centre-back Steve Cook, who left Bournemouth for Forest in January and struggled with injuries and consistency. Taking a step back in his career and 31 years of age now, the Cherries legend drops by €2.2 million to €2.8 million. Further devaluations in the millions have been received by Fulham’s Alfie Mawson (-1.5 to €2.5 million), Reds’ midfielder Harry Arter (-1.2 to €0.8 million) and Barnley’s Cauley Woodrow (-1 to €2 million) among others.

Market Value

S. Cook Centre-Back

€900k

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).