Top 10 Most Highly Valued U16 Players – 2022 Edition
By Jim James
We did this last year, and the best part about a list like this is that the next year, you have a completely new set of players to choose from! Like last year, these are the 10 players to watch to make a breakthrough this season into their teams. I can’t wait to see who we have here! However, we should first look at our players from last year to see how they’ve got on.
Antoni Milambo
He hasn’t done a whole lot in the last year, his value’s stagnated, he’s made 2 senior appearances, and he just hasn’t played.
Abdoulaye Kamara
He struggled for game time last season, but 4 league appearances already for Dortmund II signals that he will be relied upon for consistent game time this season for them, and could finally get his break this season. No change in market value though.
Luka Romero
Still no market value change, but at least Romero has some game time for Lazio, getting 8 Serie A appearances last season and being in the matchday squads this season. Like Kamara, potential breakout year.
Mathys Tel
By FAR the most successful player I’ve picked thus far. He is now most known for the big move to Bavaria this Summer, picking up a 20 million euro fee. He’s even got 2 Bundesliga Appearances already! His Value has doubled since we made the list, and it certainly will rise even more.
Antonio Nusa
I’m not sure what to make of his year. He’s barely played, but his value has increased by 1 million. Hopefully he can get a lot of game time this season to get a more clear view of him.
Roger Fernandes
Well, you’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you?
Zidan Sertdemir
He’s been in and out of the Leverkusen 1st team, playing a couple matches with the U19s, but Sertdemir really has to be hoping to make some appearances for the Senior side this season.
Noah Mbamba
Mbamba has made a flurry of senior appearances for Brugge’s senior side, and this campaign, will look to be a staple of their back line for a 2023 big move. Let’s hope.
Angelo Gabriel
He already has 84 senior Santos appearances. He only has 2 goals, but 6 assists is promising. 11 million value. He really needs his big European move soon.
Youssoufa Moukoko
This is a divisive player. His value has declined, but his resume is still miles above everybody else. Like everyone else so far, this season will be telling. 1 goal and 2 assists already in the BuLi this season. If he can keep this form up, his value will rebound and go up even higher.
Onto our new players now.
Honorable Mentions:
Adam Daghim, Aalborg, RM, Denmark (150k)
Leny Yoro, Lille, CB, France (150k)
Ricardinho, CD Mafra, CM, Portugal (125k)
Nick Holiday, North Carolina FC, GK, USA (125k)
Daniel Awuni, Accra Lions FC, RW, Ghana (125k)
10: Brian Romero
Team: Charlotte FC
Position: RW
Country: USA
Value: 150k
We actually have no information on his games. He hasn’t appeared in the MLS or even made a squad as it seems, but it still looks like we could see something given his appearance on our shortlist. Still a very enigmatic player.
9: Nestory Irankunda
Team: Adelaide United
Position: LW
Country: Australia
Value: 250k
Don’t let the value fool you. Nestory Irankunda is a bone fide one for the future. 11 games and 3 goals last season when he was just 15-16, and he was named an A-League All-Star, one of the youngest ever. This upcoming season will be very interesting for Irankunda.
8: Viktor Damjanic
Team: HNK Sibenic
Position: CB
Country: Croatia
Value: 300k
He’s had 1 senior appearance, and a range of youth appearances, but has only played 16 total games. Another enigmatic player, it will be interesting to see what the next year brings.
7: Enes Sali
Team: Farul Constanta
Position: LW
Country: Romania
Value: 400k
He’s a snake in my book. He’s rejected my favourite club and country and that’s just not fair. Despite representing Romania, he was born in Toronto and was in Canada until 2017. He also rejected Barca, being in La Masia 2 years until going to the Gheorge Hagi Academy. He has 12 senior appearances for Farul Constanta. We’ll see how he develops.
6: Dariusz Stalmach
Team: Gronik Zaberze
Position: CAM
Country: Poland
Value: 500k
We know a fair bit about this kid, he has 62 appearances in all competitions for Senior and Youth Teams, 22 for the senior squad alone. He’s a fixture in Zaberze’s games this season so far and looks likely to break out this term.
5: Jobe Bellingham
Team: Birmingham City
Position: CAM
Country: England
Value: 500k
You must know about Jobe Bellingham at this point, right? Although his older brother Jude is 190 times more valuable than him, Jobe will hope that this season will mimic Jude’s 2019-20 season with Birmingham. He has 5 senior squad appearances, and will move permanently to the U21s, to play against players 5 years older than him. He will also be playing intermittently in the Championship for Birmingham this season, likely.
4: Roony Bardghji
Team: Copenhagen
Position: RW
Country: Sweden
Value: 1.5m
The first true wonderkid here, Bardghji is not short of youth appearances and in his games, he shows himself as one of the best on the pitch, with 12 goal contributions in 38 games. He’s made his European debut in the conference league. Will be intriguing to see what this season has in store for him.
3: Paul Wanner
Team: Bayern Munich
Position: CAM
Country: Germany
Value: 2m
This player is arguably the player with the most potential on this list. Wanner has 4 senior appearances and has been in Bayern’s Bundesliga squad a lot. We will see the breakthrough of Wanner this season and he will likely be seen on the same level as Jamal Musiala soon.
2: Roger Fernandes
Team: Braga
Position: LW
Country: Portugal
Value 4m
He’s baaack. Because Fernandes was only 15 when we made last year’s list, he was eligible for this year’s list. He’s doubled his value since last year. He has made 11 senior appearances, scoring 3 times already, he also has 5 at youth level in 15 games. Truly one to watch.
1: Endrick
Team: Palmeiras
Position: ST
Country: Brazil
Value: 15m
…and it gets crazy. Endrick is 11 million valued more than 2nd place, and the best prospect on this list. He has 5 goals in 4 Brazil U17 Caps, and 6 goals in 7 Copinha games. He’s in a tug of war between the El Clasico sides, and I’ve done a post about him and one other Brazilian wonderkid, so you can read more. He is the King of the Wonderkids.
There you have it. This post took the entirety of Lazio 3-1 Inter to make, so I really hope you enjoyed the 2nd edition of this list. As always, I’m Jim James, and until next time.