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Flying under the radar
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Football is increasingly centered around Europe's five biggest leagues. Any list of the most valuable players is dominated by players plying their trade in the Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A or Ligue 1, and that's due to the remarkable amount of money swoshing around each top-flight. But that doesn't mean the continent's top leagues have all the best players.
Although the list of players that have gained the most market value in the 2025/26 season is dominated by players from the aforementioned leagues, when we filter them out of the equation, we get an intriguing breakdown of the most exciting talents in the sport that have perhaps flown under the radar. So which players outside Europe's top five leagues have come on leaps and bounds this season? Let's take a look.
In tenth place on our list is Fenerbahce center forward Sidiki Chérif . Having joined the Turkish giants in January from Angers, the 19-year-old striker has seen his market value increase by an impressive €17.2 million across the season for both clubs. Above the Guinean talent are two players that have seen their market values rise by €17.5m - Red Star Belgrade's Vasilje Kostov and Porto winger Oskar Pietuszewski . Both players look like exceptional talents at just 17 years of age and deserve their spot in the top 10.
Above the dynamic attacking duo are two players who have gained €18m in market value this season. In seventh place is another Porto prospect in central midfielder Victor Froholdt , whose market value has increased to €30m. He's joined by Palmeiras striker Vitor Roque , who is now worth an impressive €38m, making him the most valuable player in the Brazilian top flight. Although he keeps his spot above Cruzerio rival Kaio Jorge , the 24-year-old striker technically sits above him in today's rankings due to his market value increasing by €19m since the start of the season.
In fourth place is an exceptional talent in the form of Hertha Berlin midfielder Kennet Eichhorn . The German star is the most valuable player in the world for players born in 2009 and holds the title of most valuable player in the German second tier, following a €20m market value increase this season. He's joined alongside AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit and Sporting forward Luis Suárez , who have both also gained €20m so far this season. And in first place is none other than Nathan de Cat , whose remarkable performances for Anderlecht this season have seen the 17-year-old talent increase his market value by €22.5m, to make him his club's most valuable player and the fourth most valuable player in the entire Belgian top-flight.
