The most valuable players in the Premier League: Arsenal and Manchester City stars dominate the list

Bruno Guimaraes for Newcastle, Erling Haaland for Manchester City and Declan Rice for Arsenal. TEAMtalk montage.

The Premier League is widely regarded as the strongest league in football and it is stacked with some of the world’s most valuable players.

Manchester City and Arsenal have both built star-studded squads but Chelsea and Newcastle United also have some valuable assets of their own.

Using data from Transfermarkt, we’ve taken a look at the most valuable players in the Premier League in 2023/34.

There are no prizes for guessing No.1 but there are some notable absentees, including City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

15= Bernardo Silva – €80m

One of seven Manchester City players on this list, Silva joined Pep Guardiola’s side from Monaco in a €50million deal in 2017.

The Portugal international has become a fan favourite at the Etihad Stadium, and he played a starring role in their treble triumph last season.

But City could lose him on the cheap in 2024 as the 29-year-old – who has been linked with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain – has a €58.5million release clause in his contract.

15= Josko Gvardiol – €80m

Gvardiol attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs, but Manchester City won the race for signature after agreeing to pay RB Leipzig €90million in the summer of 2023.

While he is far from the finished product, the Croatia international has the tools to become one of the best defenders in the world.

“He is 21 years old so when you buy, of course, it’s a lot of money, but when you are 21 years old, it is not a problem,” Guardiola said. “He will be with us for the future and that’s what we think.”

15= Ruben Dias – €80m

Eyebrows were raised when Manchester City spent €71.6million to sign Ruben Dias from Benfica in the summer of 2020.

But the 26-year-old centre-back has justified that price tag by helping City win three successive Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup.

Alongside City teammate Josko Gvardiol, he is currently the joint-most valuable defender in the Premier League.

15= Julian Alvarez – €80m

Manchester City pulled off a sensational coup when they signed Alvarez from River Plate for just €21.4million in January 2022.

The Argentina international enjoyed a record-breaking 2022/23 campaign, becoming the first player in football history to win the treble and the World Cup in the same season.

He’s been linked with Real Madrid and Barcelona in recent weeks, but Football Insider claim that City will only consider offers that exceed his market value.

15= Enzo Fernandez – €80m

After starring for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, Fernandez joined Chelsea from Benfica in a €121million deal in January 2023.

According to The Guardian, former Chelsea manager Graham Potter felt he was overpriced and tried to discourage the owners from pushing ahead with the transfer.

The 22-year-old midfielder was valued at €55million at the time of the deal but his market value has since risen to €80million.

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez

15= Christopher Nkunku – €80m

While Chelsea may have paid over the odds for Fernandez, they were able to sign Nkunku from RB Leipzig for a relative bargain.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side triggered the €60million release clause in his contract in the summer, signing him for €20million less than his market value.

But the 26-year-old forward is yet to make his Premier League debut as a serious knee injury has kept him on the sidelines.

15= Gabriel Martinelli – €80m

Martinelli was a relatively unknown teenager when Arsenal paid Brazilian side Ituano just €7million for his signature back in 2019.

The 22-year-old has since developed into one of the best wingers in the Premier League and his market value has soared in the last four years.

“Gabi is still very young, so we know there’s still much more to come from him and it’s great that we’ll be on this journey together,” Mikel Arteta said after the Brazil international signed a new long-term contract.

“We’re now excited to continue to develop his huge talent and look forward to seeing him perform with Arsenal in the years to come.”

8. Bruno Guimaraes – €85m

While this list is dominated by players from the traditional ‘Big Six’ clubs, Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes is the one exception.

The Brazil international moved to the North East in January 2022 and has been a transformative signing, helping the Magpies rise up the Premier League table.

He recently signed a contract extension at St James’ Park but it includes a €116million release clause and Barcelona are long-term admirers of the 26-year-old.

7= Martin Odegaard – €90m

Odegaard struggled to break into the first-team picture at Real Madrid and was valued at just €40million in January 2021.

Since moving to Arsenal, the 25-year-old Norway international has gone from strength to strength and his market value has increased by 125%.

He wears the captain’s armband for Arteta’s side and recently signed a new five-year contract, keeping him at the Emirates until 2028.

7= Moises Caicedo – €90m

Caicedo has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the last 18 months and his market value has skyrocketed, going from €6million to €90million.

He left Brighton and joined Chelsea in the summer in a deal that could ultimately cost €134million, which would make him the most expensive player in Premier League history.

The 22-year-old midfielder – who signed an eight-year contract at Stamford Bridge – is yet to replace his Brighton form in a Chelsea shirt but is undoubtedly a brilliant talent.

5= Rodri – €100m

Manchester City identified Rodri as a long-term successor to Fernandinho and triggered the €70million release clause in his Atletico Madrid contract in 2019.

He initially struggled to adapt to Premier League football but has since established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.

“He’s amazing,” Gary Neville told Sky Sports. “I’d say over the past 12 to 18 months he’s been Man City’s most important player.

“Now, that might seem crazy to say when you talk about De Bruyne and [Erling] Haaland but he just does everything. He runs the attack, he breaks down in defence, he connects through midfield, he’s a leader.”

Man City midfielder Rodri

5= Declan Rice – €100m

After starring for West Ham United in the 2022/23 season, Rice became one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe.

Arsenal fought off competition from Manchester City and Bayern Munich to sign the England international in a deal worth a reported €116.6million.

He’s made an immediate impact at the Emirates, and the 24-year-old will be a mainstay of Arsenal’s midfield for many more years to come.

3. Phil Foden – €110m

Foden came through the ranks at Manchester City and won back-to-back PFA Young Player of the Year awards in 2021 and 2022.

The 23-year-old has also made a brilliant start to the 2023/24 season and is widely regarded as one of the most exciting talents in world football.

He is currently valued at €110million, although it is likely to take a lot more than that to prise him away from the Etihad.

2. Bukayo Saka – €120m

An Arsenal academy graduate, Saka has thrived under Mikel Arteta’s tutelage and is now one of the best players in the Premier League.

He won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2022/23 and is now valued at €120million, making him the second-most valuable Englishman after Jude Bellingham.

The 22-year-old has previously been linked with Manchester City and Liverpool, but Arsenal gave him a lucrative new contract that ties him down at the Emirates until 2027.

1. Erling Haaland – €180m

Manchester City won the race for Haaland’s signature in 2022 by triggering the €60million release clause in his Borussia Dortmund contract.

The striker won the treble in his debut season and recently became the fastest player in Premier League history to reach 50 goals, hitting the milestone in his 48th game.

While he’s currently valued at €180million, agent Rafaela Pimenta believes the Norway international could command a world-record fee in the future.

“Erling Haaland is worth €1billion,” Pimenta told French TV Channel TF1’s Telefoot programme. “That’s not a guess, I’m sure of it.

“They might say I’m being ridiculous, that a club is not going to pay a billion, but his age, his quality, his progression and the way he behaves is why I talk about a billion.”

READ MORE: Ranking every Premier League club by their wage bill in 2023/24: Man Utd in top spot, Liverpool fall outside top four

Phil Foden Bukayo Saka Erling Haaland

Related Articles